Odisha’s rural work does not have adequate photographic evidence, says a draft audit report
A draft audit report reveals that over 90 percent of rural development projects in Odisha, India, lack sufficient photographic evidence for monitoring. The failure to maintain geo-tagged records in the WAMIS system has hindered the government's ability to verify the progress and quality of infrastructure works.
Why it matters
Poor documentation in public infrastructure projects creates significant risks for corruption, mismanagement, and the failure to deliver essential services to rural populations.
Over 90% of works executed by Odisha’s Rural Development Department had either no photographic evidence or only minimal photographic evidence defeating objective of real time monitoring, says a draft audit report.
According to draft audit titled “Data Led Compliance Audit on Rural Works” shared with Rural Development department, in 2013 it was decided that photographs of all original road, bridge, building (costing more than ₹25 lakh) and pipe water supply works should be uploaded in Works and Accounts Management Information System (WAMIS) every month, irrespective of the stage of execution.
In November 2013, the department further mandated uploading of geo-tagged photographs of all works to facilitate effective monitoring.
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