Nearly 5,000 BMC Files Stuck Over New Audit Objection, Vendor Payments Worth Crores Delayed In Bhopal

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Approximately 5,000 files from various BMC departments have been halted due to a new audit objection, causing delays in vendor payments worth crores of rupees and impacting the provision of goods and services. The files were initially sent to the accounts section for payment processing after a delay of eight to ten months, then forwarded to the audit section.

While routine auditing is standard before payments are released, the new requirement now mandates every file obtain a "Passed for Payment" seal before audit submission. This has resulted in a significant backlog, with around 5,000 files awaiting clearance. Consequently, many BMC vendors have halted their operations, citing that payments were already delayed for eight to ten months before the latest audit objection further exacerbated the situation.

The vendors, whose supply chains have been disrupted and financial burdens increased, have ceased taking on new work until payments are resolved. The accounts section insists it lacks the necessary seal, leading to the audit section's request that returned files carry the "Passed for Payment" seal. Officials have referred the issue to the finance department.

BMC additional commissioner (finance) Varun Baderia has arranged a meeting with vendors on Friday to address payment delays and the audit objection. The vendors are anticipated to raise their concerns about payment delays and the audit objection before BMC commissioner Sanskriti Jain.