From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Feb 13: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the State legislature in its 19th report in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly has criticised the State Government for lack of budget control mechanisms.

In the report, tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday, the PAC took the State Government to task for incurring excess expenditure of Rs 4973.28 crore without budgetary provision during 1989-90 to 2010-11.

The report was tabled to regularise excess expenditure incurred by various departments during the last 21 years without the approval of the state legislature.

The 10th report of the PAC was tabled in the House on January 13, 2011, to regularise excess expenditure of Rs 4781.72 crore.

Both 19th and 10th reports were tabled to regularise excess expenditure of Rs 9575 crore during 1989-90 and 2009-10.

The State Government has to table a Finance Bill in the Legislature to regularise excess expenditure, the  PAC said.

The PAC headed by Congress Deputy Leader in the AssemblyT B Jayachndra attacked the poor monitoring system contributed to the excess expenditure by various departments.

Poor forecast, planning and control over expenditure led to excess expenditure by departments such as energy, public works and revenue, the PAC Chairman said.

The purchase of power by the Energy department from independent power producers at different prices at different times in a year was a not healthy sign.

The Energy Department spent excess amount of Rs 817.55 crore during 1989-2007, the PAC said.

The report has recommended strict implementation of price preference and purchase preference policy by the energy department to regulate expenditure.

On account of poor forecast, the Government tabled third supplementary estimates in the financial year in the House on Tuesday, Jayachandra said.