Goa : 16 January 2026

The Audit Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on the Government of Goa for the period ended 31 March 2023 (Report No. 4 of 2025) was presented to the Goa State Legislature today, 16 January 2026. The Report covers Social, General, Economic and Revenue Sectors and brings out significant findings on governance, compliance and financial management.

Solid Waste Management in Urban Local Bodies

The Subject Specific Compliance Audit (SSCA) on Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) highlighted major deficiencies in planning, implementation and infrastructure. Audit of the Corporation of the City of Panaji and four Municipal Councils, covering the period 2017-18 to 2021-22, revealed that despite notification of the State SWM Policy in October 2018 (revised in March 2024), ULBs did not prepare SWM plans, adversely impacting efficient waste management.

Ineffective collection of user charges resulted in huge arrears, constraining ULBs from financing SWM activities from their own resources, the report says. The report also highlights lack of manpower, anomalies in estimating waste generation, and issue in treatment facilities. The report shows that on an average, only 78 per cent of collected waste was treated, while the remainder was dumped untreated, leading to creation of new dumpsites. Margao Municipal Council faced acute shortage with a 5 TPD facility against 35 TPD waste collected. The Goa State Pollution Control Board also failed to effectively implement e-waste management rules and maintain comprehensive inventories, the report says.

Oversight on GST Payments and Return Filing – Phase II

The SSCA on the State Taxes Department’s oversight under the GST regime revealed systemic deficiencies such as inaction against non-filers, delays in scrutiny of returns and lack of follow-up after cancellation of registrations. Audit, conducted mainly through data analysis, covered State-administered taxpayers for the period April 2018 to March 2021.

Loan Management of EDC Limited

The audit of loan management of EDC Limited, a Government-owned NBFC, for the period 2018-19 to 2022-23 revealed deficiencies in loan appraisal, security and interest rate management. The report says that interest rates were not periodically reviewed, and selective borrowers were granted concessions. Non-compliance with One Time Settlement norms resulted in higher principal waivers to select defaulters. Recovery of dues was adversely affected due to lack of follow-up, non-filing of cases and inaccurate reporting to Credit Information Companies. Absence of long-term business planning led to a decline in the loan portfolio, while profits of about ₹250 crore were retained without a clear plan for deployment towards MSME lending.

Other Significant Audit Findings

• Nomination-based award of desilting contracts of River Sal resulted in undue benefit of ₹3.14 crore.
• Short levy of excise duty and health surcharge of ₹60.28 lakh due to incorrect MRP slab.
• Short levy of license fee of ₹33.59 lakh from hoteliers.
• Idle expenditure of ₹70.45 crore on financially unviable land acquisition.
• Irregular retention of ₹6.58 crore and misleading utilization certificates by Goa IDC.
• Non-collection of GST of ₹10.55 crore and non-availing of ITC of ₹10.63 crore by the Electricity Department.
• Ineligible consultant appointment and deficient planning by GSIDC led to delays and extra expenditure of ₹44.39 lakh.

CAG-Goa| Riyas Babu /Ambadas Yadav/Priti Malandkar

                             

 

    

Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai    /pibmumbai  pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com

 

(Release ID: 2215331) Visitor Counter : 624