India, Aug. 6 -- The CAG has flagged the West Bengal government's "failure" in safeguarding tribals' interests while land was being acquired for mining projects, leading to inadequate compensation payment in five fiscals between 2017-18 and 2021-22 when the Trinamool Congress was in power.

In an audit of land management in tribal areas, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said that "inaction and non-involvement of district level functionaries" such as revenue officers, district collectors and others led to the rehabilitative shortfall.

The audit covered 66 land acquisition cases between 2017-18 and 2021-22 involving Eastern Coalfields Limited's (ECL's) Salanpur, Sripur, Kunustoria and Parbelia areas and Bharat Coking Coal Limited'...