New Delhi, 12 April (H.S.):

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has declared zero tolerance for irregularities, negligence, or malpractices in the financial operations of government enterprises handling retail liquor sales in the capital. She revealed that recent revelations indicate prolonged failure to reconcile accounts in certain liquor sales entities, potentially exposing the exchequer to financial irregularities and losses.

In a communiqué issued Sunday, the Chief Minister outlined that retail liquor distribution in Delhi is managed by state-owned bodies such as the Delhi Consumer Cooperative Wholesale Stores (DCCWS), Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation (DSCSC), and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC). These agencies operate outlets across the city.

Beyond ensuring fiscal accuracy, the government is instituting stringent oversight, reconciliation, verification, and validation processes for all accounts.

The Chief Minister has mandated a comprehensive reconciliation of financial and operational records spanning the past five years across these entities. This will entail meticulous scrutiny of all entries related to sales, purchases, inventory, and cash transactions. The organizations must collaborate closely with the Delhi government's Excise Department to verify and validate every record. For enhanced transparency and accountability, the Excise Commissioner will independently cross-verify sales, stock, and revenue data to detect any fiscal mismanagement or discrepancies comprehensively.

She warned that any proven irregularities, financial misconduct, or harm to government revenue will trigger stringent action against responsible officials and individuals. Safeguarding public funds remains the government's utmost priority, with no room for laxity.

Additionally, all concerned entities and the Excise Department must compile a detailed report on this process and submit it to the Finance Department within two months of the order's issuance. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that these robust measures will fortify financial transparency while rendering revenue collection more efficient and accountable.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar