Gujarat : Thieves stole Rs 28 Cr Government Goods in Five years!

Ahmedabad : Not just your everyday valuables, even the Gujarat government has fallen prey to large-scale theft and property loss over the past five years, according to a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). The staggering figures reveal 178 FIRs filed under various theft and burglary sections, involving a staggering Rs. 28.20 crore worth of government materials.

The investigation paints a worrying picture. While materials worth Rs. 50 lakh were confirmed stolen, another Rs. 1.91 crore worth of property went up in flames. The fate of the remaining goods, amounting to a significant chunk, remains shrouded in mystery.

Adding to the concern, government officials admitted to the CAG that the majority of these missing properties were reported in the past five years alone, accumulating to a hefty sum of Rs. 12.75 crore. A total of 31 cases have been registered for these vanished assets.

The report further highlights the departments most affected by this pilferage. The Forest Department takes the dubious lead with 42 missing property cases, followed by the Narmada and Kalpsar departments with 28 cases each. The Revenue Department also finds itself on the list with 25 cases of lost property.

These startling revelations raise serious questions about the security and accountability measures in place for safeguarding government assets.

The CAG report recommends a thorough internal audit and stringent action against those responsible for these losses. It also emphasizes the need for robust inventory management systems and improved physical security measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.