Friday, May 6 2005 17:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Comptroller and Auditor General today (May 6, 2005) pulled up the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government for diversion of funds and incurring unauthorised expenditure of Rs 63.23 crore for the 'India Shining' media campaign.

"Ministry of Finance did not obtain approval of Parliament before incurring an expenditure of Rs 63.23 crore on the media campaign," CAG said in its report tabled in Parliament today.

"The action of the Ministry in not obtaining prior approval of Parliament before incurring expenditure on the activity, which was a new service or instrument of service, was unauthorised," it said.

The Ministry incurred the expenditure through diversion of funds although this activity was not contemplated in the annual budget, CAG said, while tracing the expenditure.

An expenditure of Rs 63.23 crore was incurred by re-appropriating Rs 68 crore from the sub-head 'Cooperation with other countries' to a sub-head 'other expenditure' under Major Head 3605 in Demand No. 31 - Department of Economic Affairs for 2003-04, CAG said.

However, the Finance Ministry said that it had mentioned about the expenditure while presenting the Demand and treated it as a provision for supporting an overall, general and imaginative promotion of India, its trade and foster techno-economic and intellectual progress with other countries. Hence, it was not treated as a new service.