OAG: Hydro project funds diverted

THE Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport shelved a hydro turbine project in Bua, stopped a rural grid extension project and put on hold a solar home system project in 2019 and used funds allocated for these elsewhere.

This, according to the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) in the 2019 Audit Report on Infrastructure Sector tabled in Parliament recently.

The upgrade of the Bua hydro turbine project was worth $900,000, the rural grid extension project was budgeted at $785,000 and $931,705 was allocated for the solar home system project.

“The ministry should ensure that proper planning is carried out to avoid the non–implementation of development projects which are funded through the budgetary process,” stated the OAG.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport stated funding on these projects were put on hold and reprioritised for other government projects and commitments.