CAG to audit 16 West Bengal municipalities on building plans, property tax
Synopsis
The CAG's 'Horizontal Review' will put 16 West Bengal municipalities under the scanner for building plan approvals and property tax compliance covering 2021-22 to 2025-26 — a period when all 16 bodies were under Trinamool Congress control. The audit, part of a 22-state national drive, could surface evidence of illegal construction and revenue shortfalls, with findings to be tabled in the state assembly.
Key Takeaways
The CAG will audit 16 municipalities in West Bengal under a drive called 'Horizontal Review' , covering 22 Indian states .
The audit period is 2021-22 to 2025-26 , during which all 16 municipal boards were under Trinamool Congress (TMC) control.
The review will examine building plan approvals , illegal construction, delays in processing applications, and property tax collection and assessment.
The state government informed concerned municipalities on 13 October to cooperate with auditors.
The audit begins by end of October 2026 and will run until 2027 , with findings to be placed before the West Bengal Legislative Assembly .
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) will conduct a special audit of 16 municipalities in West Bengal, examining building plan approvals and property tax collections over the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. The exercise is part of a broader 'Horizontal Review' drive covering select municipal bodies across 22 Indian states.
Which Municipalities Are Covered
The 16 municipal bodies span eight districts across the state. They include Contai Municipality and Haldia Municipality in East Midnapore, Asansol Municipal Corporation in West Burdwan, Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Darjeeling Municipality, and Kurseong Municipality in Darjeeling district. Also covered are South Dum Dum Municipality, Halisahar Municipality, Baranagar Municipality, and Taki Municipality in North 24 Parganas.
Further on the list are Uluberia Municipality in Howrah, Domkal Municipality in Murshidabad, Uttarpara-Kotrung Municipality and Sreerampore Municipality in Hooghly, Bolpur Municipality in Birbhum, and Krishnanagar Municipality in Nadia.
What the Audit Will Examine
According to a state government official, the 'Horizontal Review' will scrutinise whether specific rules were followed in approving designs for houses and multi-storey buildings, whether there was undue delay in processing applications, and whether construction was actually carried out as per approved designs. The review is also aimed at identifying potential areas of illegal construction and recommending necessary amendments.
On the property tax side, the audit will examine the proper registration of taxable properties, methods of tax assessment, arrears of revenue, tax collection processes, and the property revaluation system.
Political Significance of the Audit Period
Notably, the audit window of 2021-22 to 2025-26 covers a period during which all boards of these 16 municipal bodies were under the control of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), the ruling party in West Bengal at the time. Critics argue that the timing and scope of the CAG exercise could shed significant light on governance and compliance standards during the TMC's municipal tenure.
Timeline and Next Steps
The Office of the Examiner of Local Accounts in West Bengal informed the state government of the initiative through a letter dated 5 October, ahead of the Durga Puja holidays. The state's municipal affairs and urban development department subsequently directed all concerned municipalities to cooperate with auditors by furnishing the necessary documents, via a letter issued on 13 October. The special audit is set to begin by the end of October 2026 and is expected to continue until 2027. The final audit report will be placed on the floor of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
Point of View
And an independent audit report tabled in the assembly will be hard to bury. The real question is whether the findings will carry actionable recommendations or become another shelf document. Given that the audit spans 22 states, the national comparative data could also put West Bengal's municipal performance in a sharper, more embarrassing relief.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CAG's 'Horizontal Review' audit in West Bengal?
The 'Horizontal Review' is a special audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India covering 16 municipalities in West Bengal as part of a larger drive across 22 Indian states. It will scrutinise building plan approvals and property tax collections over the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Which municipalities in West Bengal will be audited by the CAG?
The 16 municipalities include Contai, Haldia, Asansol Municipal Corporation, Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Darjeeling, Kurseong, South Dum Dum, Halisahar, Baranagar, Taki, Uluberia, Domkal, Uttarpara-Kotrung, Sreerampore, Bolpur, and Krishnanagar, spread across eight districts.
Why is the audit period politically significant?
The audit covers 2021-22 to 2025-26, a period during which all 16 municipal boards were under the control of the All India Trinamool Congress. This means the CAG's findings will directly reflect on governance standards during TMC's municipal tenure.
What aspects of property tax will the CAG audit examine?
The audit will look into the proper registration of taxable properties, the method of tax assessment, arrears of revenue, tax collection efficiency, and the property revaluation system in each of the 16 municipalities.
When will the CAG audit begin and where will the report be presented?
The special audit is set to commence by end of October 2026 and is expected to continue until 2027. The final audit report will be placed on the floor of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
