Summary:
While IGTR sought more project details, which were submitted, there was no response from the central government.But considering the project benefits, the state government approved its share of Rs 6.80 crore for the project and released Rs 4.52 crore, though no approval came from the Centre. Out of the estimated expense of Rs 15.80 crore, Rs 6.80 crore was to be borne by state government, Rs 8.01 crore by the Centre and Rs 90 lakh by the institution.In July 2010, the Centre referred the project to Indo-German Tool Room, Aurangabad for a quick review to study the tooling and training needs as per the present status of the tooling industry. Further, it was to bridge the gap between the demand and the supply of trained manpower in the industry, and boost research and development.After the industries department invited expressions of interest in August 2008, an educational institution from south Goa was chosen and a project plan was submitted to the central government. In August 2011, a building was constructed for the tool room, but as the Centre did not approve the project or release its share of Rs 8.10 crore, the tools and machinery could not be purchased.“The submission of the proposal not as per prescribed procedure, non-compliance of deficiencies in the project report, release of state’s share even before its approval and non-procurement of machinery resulted in idle investment of Rs 4.52 crore for six years, December 2011 to December 2017,” CAG stated. PANAJI: The comptroller and auditor general of India (CAG) has hauled up the industries department for failing to complete formalities that led to a tool room project set up in Goa at a cost of Rs 4.52 crore lying idle for nearly seven years now.The project was one of the 15 tool rooms in India mooted by the central government, aimed at improving the competitiveness of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the manufacturing sector, the annual report of the CAG for the financial year 2016-17 states..