UP: ‘Glaring’ errors in Amethi aviation university working, says CAG

LUCKNOW: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged ‘glaring lapses’ on the part of Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University of Amethi, leading to academic and monetary loss.
The audit report highlighted the lackadaisical approach in execution of a contract with KPMG, the firm engaged for the establishment of RGNAU (under the Union ministry of civil aviation). This, it said, has led to ‘considerable’ delay in completion of work and financial loss of 48.9 lakh which was imposed as a penalty for the delay.
It also pointed out that in contravention to government rules, KPMG had submitted performance bank guarantee in acceptable form in September 2017, one year and one month after signing the contract. As per rules, performance security is to be furnished within 14 days after notification of the award.
The release of Rs 1.96 crore by RGNAU before receipt of performance security (by KPMG) in the form of bank guarantee is highly irregular, the CAG report said.
In its latest report, the CAG report cited that there has been no post—academic and non-academic—except for that of vice-chancellor, registrar and finance officer, created since the inception of the university in 2013. The first ordinance has also not been published so far.
Stating that the target of becoming a premier institution can’t be achieved by functioning with contractual staff, the report pointed out that after resignation of the VC and termination of the registrar, these posts have not been filled. There is no other statutory body except the executive council and academic council, the report said.
The CAG report pointed out several other anomalies and discrepancies that caused huge losses to the exchequer over the years. The university, it said, caused loss to the government by not remitting Rs 99 lakh received as interest on government grant. It also caused monetary loss by over-payment to GMR Aviation Academy with Rs 2.8 lakh for PG diploma in airport operation, said the report. The agreement of RGNAU with Airports Authority of India (AAI) for construction of an academic block and hostel building is still incomplete, found the national auditor. The work that began in 2013 was to be completed by August 2016. Records do not indicate whether extension was approved by the civil aviation ministry for the project, pointed out CAG.