The Bengal government has set up a five-member committee of senior bureaucrats to verify pending bills against civil works carried out at booths ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2021 Assembly elections.

The committee’s constitution is seen as a move to avoid allegations of misappropriation of funds. This is the first time such a panel has been set up ahead of the disbursement of funds to verify bills against projects executed by agencies engaged by the state government.

“The committee will check each bill submitted for payment from the state exchequer. The government will only clear those bills which are approved by the committee,” said a senior government official.

A section of officials said setting up the committee to verify the bills would help the state avoid facing uncomfortable questions.

“The committee’s formation shows the state was not sure whether all bills were genuine. If the government pays against any false bills, it will be accused of embezzlement of funds. Payment against the false bills will also hurt the cash-strapped state exchequer,” said an official.

Sources said the Election Commission of India (ECI) would ask the state government ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls to initiate some development works at buildings where booths would be established.

“Bills of ₹250 crore have been pending with the government for over five years. Now, the government is hesitant to clear the bills without verifying the same as the state was battling allegations of irregularities in recruitment of school teachers and misappropriation of funds in installing CCTV cameras in medical colleges,” said another official.

Sources have said the ECI issues guidelines on facilities required at polling booths. The home department takes the initiative to install the facilities which are absent from schools, panchayat offices and other public buildings where the booths are generally
set up.

The home department engages the PWD to undertake the works as instructed by the ECI. The PWD floats tenders for installing drinking water facilities and electric connections and for other infrastructure works at the booths.

According to a notification issued by the finance department, the committee will be headed by the chairman of the finance department’s project clearance committee, Srikumar Bhattacharya. The committee will also comprise a member of the PWD and three of the home department.

However, a bureaucrat asked: “Is it possible for the committee to check whether the projects were executed five years ago?”