NEW DELHI: Despite repeated observations in the Chief Auditor's report about various malpractices and misuse of public funds over the years, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has failed to mend its ways.

The latest audit report holds the civic body guilty of financial irregularities amounting to Rs.18.18 crores that include fraud in regularisation of daily wagers, sub-standard civic works and unnecessary procurements of various items costing crores of rupees.

The audit revealed that services of 127 daily wage employees were regularised on the basis of fake documents and Rs.8.40 lakhs was fraudulently withdrawn by nine employees as arrears.

Similarly, incinerators worth Rs.2.31 crores were unnecessarily installed at various municipal hospitals and clinics, states the report of the Chief Auditor for 2002-03.

Other wasteful expenditure includes installation of power generating sets (Rs.1.53 crores); construction of grade separator on Najafgarh Road and Jail Road (Rs.1.62 crores); construction of flyover on two level crossings on New Rohtak Road at Zakhira (Rs.4.31 crores); construction of grade separator near Janakpuri District Centre (Rs.65 lakhs); and construction of subways on Netaji Subhas Marg opposite the Red Fort (Rs.24.40 lakhs).

Similarly, MCD wasted Rs.2.26 crores on resettlement of slum dwellers at Narela, while financial irregularities were found in the field of property tax (Rs.2.32 crores), works management (Rs.1.65 crores) and slum department (Rs.44.10 lakhs).

But some Municipal Councillors have questioned the utility of the entire exercise terming it as a waste of time and resources.

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