MGNREGS Maharashtra: CAG reports 52.81% work completion, major delays and unpaid allowance

A Comptroller and Auditor General of India report said Maharashtra completed only 52.81 per cent of approved MGNREGS works between 2019-20 and 2023-24. The report was tabled in the state legislature on Wednesday. It said 25.72 lakh works were approved in that period. Spending also continued on works that stayed unfinished.

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The audit said authorities spent Rs 6,725.65 crore on works marked as completed. It also recorded Rs 5,361.02 crore spent on works that remained incomplete. The findings pointed to delays across several projects. The report also described gaps in monitoring and checks under the rural jobs scheme.

MGNREGS works in Maharashtra: Delays and pending projects

As of March 2025, about 7.10 lakh approved works had not started, the report said. This included 2.48 lakh works pending for more than three years. It also said 5.03 lakh works were incomplete. Of these, 1.07 lakh had been awaiting completion for over three years.

MGNREGS unemployment allowance in Maharashtra: Payments not made

The CAG said MGNREGS rules require work within 15 days of demand. If not, registered households become eligible for unemployment allowance. The audit found Rs 34.85 lakh was due during 2019-20 to 2023-24. Only Rs 2,268 was paid. This left Rs 34.83 lakh unpaid.

MGNREGS social audits in Maharashtra: Misappropriation recovery pending

The report flagged weaknesses in social audits for MGNREGS works. It said the Social Audit Unit identified 1,084 misappropriation cases. Recovery of Rs 11.22 crore was to be made in these cases. However, action in 314 cases stayed pending. These cases involved Rs 4.44 crore, the audit noted.

The CAG linked the pending recovery to lack of funds for audits. It said the Social Audit Unit got less than one-third of required funds from the Government of India. It also said the state government passed on inadequate funds. The report added that the Maharashtra State Employment Guarantee Council did not hold meetings regularly.

With inputs from PTI