Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath on Wednesday took a veiled dig at the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) by hinting that the national auditor doesn’t consider ground realities while preparing audits.

Speaking at a seminar on Performance Reporting for Urban Local Bodies at the CAG headquarters, Nath said that the government’s recent decision to legalize unauthorized colonies in the capital was based on ground realities, but someone could allege that the decision cost the exchequer crores of rupees.

Hinting about CAG’s report about alleged coal blocks allocation scandal, Nath said, “The question today is what is desirable and, on the other hand, what is feasible. I spoke about colonies… Tomorrow someone will say that so much land has been given, there is going to be presumptive loss.”

Nath didn’t name anyone, but it took no time for the audience to comprehend that he was taking dig at the CAG, which alleged in its report that the government allotted coal blocks to private companies at throwaway prices, and pegged the loss to the exchequer at 1.86 lakh crore.

Nath added that there was a need to practice the art of the feasible and not the art of the desirable. However, he circumvented commenting on the CAG report on controversial coal block allotments to private companies.