Report No. 01 of 2026- Compliance Audit Report of Government of West Bengal for the year ended on 31 March 2024.

What did the audit examine?

This audit examined the compliance of the Animal Resource Development Department and Tourism, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Forest and Environment Department of the Government of West Bengal for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Who / what it concerns

Government of West Bengal

What the auditor found

• The Animal Resource Development Department lacks a Strategic Plan or Vision Document for infrastructure maintenance.
• 46% of surgical instruments in test-checked BAHCs were unserviceable.
• 50.27 lakh spent on a Feed Testing Laboratory at Jalpaiguri (2019) was wasted due to lack of manpower.
• Vacancy rate in AR & AH Directorate was 62.74% (5,374 sanctioned posts vs. 2,002 in position as of August 2024).
• 176 out of 2,054 Animal Development Aid Centres (ADACs) were operational due to LDA vacancies.
• Coastal Zone Management Plan (2019) not approved by Ministry of Environment due to delays.
• Gangasagar Bakkhali Development Authority lacked required clearances before allocating work, causing Jambu island eco-tourism project to remain non-operational.

Points worth noting

• 50.27 lakh wasted on unused Feed Testing Laboratory.
• 62.74% vacancy rate in AR & AH Directorate.
• Only 176 out of 2,054 ADACs operational due to staff shortages.