CAG raps Tamil Nadu for Rs 4-cr loss due to damaged TV sets

CHENNAI: The previous DMK regime may have gained political mileage over a 2006 pre-poll promise to distribute free colour television sets to people. But, what’s strained the coffers further is the loss of public money of more than Rs 4 crore due to damage of several thousands of TV sets kept in godowns, awaiting distribution.
While water seepage due to leaking roofs in godowns damaged some TV sets, rats gnawed at sensitive equipment of some others, said sources.In its letter dated April 2012 and addressed to CAG, the state revenue department said the sets were damaged during transportation and handling. But, the latest CAG report slammed the government, implying that official apathy led to 95,725 colour television sets lying idle for 16 to 29 months in various government godowns, procured during the last phase of the scheme at a cost of Rs 22.82 crore.
A senior official from Elcot said though the TV sets were distributed to schools, hospitals and other places as prescribed by the AIADMK government after it assumed charge in May 2011, the task moved at snail’s pace. “This is the main reason for the damage. Officials got busy distributing free mixers and grinders to the people, the AIADMK government’s scheme,” said the official. Though this issue was referred again to the state government by CAG in September 2012, no reply has been received until December 2012. The CAG also hauled up the state IT department, saying though it had been aware of the damaged TV sets, it failed to act.
Of the total stocks gathering dust in godowns, at least 20,106 TV sets were reported as defective or damaged, which has cost the exchequer Rs 4 crore loss, the report said. The damage is about 20%, it added. Sources in the IT department, which is the nodal agency to monitor the distribution, said each TV set was procured at the rate of Rs 2,200 per unit during the sixth phase of the scheme. All payments have been made to the companies, which supplied the sets.
But, chief minister J Jayalalithaa scrapped the scheme after she took charge and said the remaining colour TVs will be given to schools, hospitals, orphanages and anganwadi centres. The revenue administration was given charge of stocking and maintaining the colour TV sets in various godowns across the state.
Rains coupled with leaky roofs in godowns led to seepage of water in some of the colour television sets. “Some TV sets were kept near the wash room,” sources added. “Elcot officials intimated the revenue department periodically about the status of the TV sets. But, we were not informed about the damage,” said a senior IT department official. “Moreover, as the warranty period for the television sets, which is two years, has ended, they will neither be replaced nor repaired by the company,” the official added.
The previous DMK government had procured 1.65 crore colour televisions at a cost of Rs 3,907 crore in six phases during 2006-11.