Eight civic bodies, including Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, haven’t conducted audits for up to seven years
Serious lapses have emerged in the financial management of Gujarat’s municipal corporations, with accounts worth nearly 2 lakh crore lying unaudited across eight major civic bodies, including Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, and Vadodara.
As per a media report, none of these corporations have completed financial audits for the last six to seven years, despite clear directives from the 11th Central Finance Commission (2000–2005) and a 2005 Finance Department resolution mandating regular audits and submission of reports to the CAG and the Legislative Assembly.
In Ahmedabad, accounts have remained unaudited since 2017–18, with nearly 50,000 crore worth of transactions pending review. Similar delays persist in other cities, undermining transparency and accountability in municipal administration.
Audits are crucial for identifying financial irregularities and ensuring responsible governance, but prolonged neglect raises serious concerns over fiscal discipline in local bodies.
Unaudited accounts of Gujarat’s municipal corporations:
| Municipal Corporation | Years Audited | Pending Audit |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | 2010–2017-18 | 7 years |
| Gandhinagar | 2010–2020-21 | 6 years |
| Rajkot | 2010–2018-19 | 5 years |
| Jamnagar | 2010–2019-20 | 5 years |
| Bhavnagar | 2010–2019-20 | 5 years |
| Junagadh | 2010–2020-21 | 4 years |
| Surat | 2010–2017-18 | 7 years |
| Vadodara | 2010–2017-18 | 7 years |