“Every authority designated with the powers of procuring goods and hiring services in public interest has the responsibility and accountability. There has to be economy, efficiency, fairness, transparency, quality and amount of money while purchasing goods,” reads directive issued by Finance Department.

The government has directed departments that care should be taken to avoid purchasing quantities more than required.  

“Tenders should be invited following a fair transparency and reasonable procedure. Specifications in terms of quality type etc as also quantity of goods to be procured should be clearly spelt out keeping in view the specific needs of the procuring organizations. The specifications so worked out should meet basic needs of the organisation without including superfluous and non essential features which may result in unwarranted expenditure,” it said.  

The directives have unnerved officials who were purchasing goods in their departments without seeking approval from authorities causing huge losses to the exchequer.

“Directives have been issued as government has received complaints that several departments have been purchasing goods more than reasonable costs, creating losses to the exchequer,” an official of Finance Department told KNS.

Sources said departments have also been told to submit annual procurement plan before the commencement of next year.

Similarly, departments have also been told to seek prior approval from the Finance and Planning Department before starting any development works.

Several government departments had started the developmental works without the administrative approval, which has led to funds crunch, sources said.

“These works have been started without any source of funding. Most of these works have been halted for want of funding,” said an official of Finance Department.

Several departments, the source said, while projecting new schemes and project proposals for inclusion in the annual action plans did not consult the Finance and Planning and Development departments.

Sources said Anti-Corruption Bureau has received complaints that there has been misappropriation of funds in various developmental works.

The anti-graft body has written to the government that it has been receiving “complaints regarding embezzlement of funds in various departments through release of funds repeatedly against already restored works which are in good condition”. (KNS)