CAG report finds failures in Bihar's border development projects

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has reported issues in the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) in Bihar. This program aims to provide infrastructure in sensitive border areas. The report was released during a session of the Bihar legislature. According to the CAG, there were significant delays in creating plans for the program. No baseline surveys were conducted to identify gaps in infrastructure. Many annual plans had problems, including selecting projects that were not feasible. By the end of the audit period, 19 out of 82 planned projects, worth nearly Rs 5 crore, were incomplete. The CAG also criticized the Bihar government for delays in establishing important labor regulations. Many workers missed out on medical assistance amounting to about Rs 90.75 crore between 2018 and 2021. Additionally, there were issues with a Covid-19 relief fund where over 2.6 lakh workers did not receive Rs 52 crore. Other programs, like the Bihar Rajya Fasal Sahayata Yojana, faced shortcomings. The cooperative department lacked a proper database for beneficiaries. Over 26 lakh applications were rejected for various reasons. Furthermore, financial aid payments were often delayed by up to 21 months. The CAG pointed to delays in the Neer Nirmal Pariyojna project, which affected assistance from the World Bank. Due to these delays, Bihar missed out on over Rs 476 crore in potential funding. The report also mentioned unnecessary spending, such as costs for water supply infrastructure that became redundant when alternatives were available. Overall, the report highlighted systemic issues in planning and executing programs meant to aid border areas and their residents in Bihar.