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New Delhi : In one of the first reactions by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) towards Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG's) report of irregularities in use of funds against the New York India Tourism office, Kumari Selja, Union Minister for Tourism, Urban Housing & Poverty Alleviation, said that guilty officials will be punished if allegations are found to be correct. "There is no question of sparing the guilty in this issue," said Selja while responding exclusively to reporters.
CAG has reported gross misuse of funds amounting to Rs 5.5 crore for personal purchases by India Tourism officers in New York in their audit report. The expenses in question were incurred in the financial year 2006-07. The report also indicts MoT for not seeking reports from the New York India Tourism office for these expenses.
With regards to the delay on part of the Games Travel Office (Commonwealth Games) on placing firm bookings which was guaranteed earlier, the Minister said that the participating nations are yet to send their final delegate list, which is causing the delay. However, she expressed hope that the bookings will start from September.
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