Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 25:
A sum of Rs 15,27,570 issued as relief fund for the number of natural calamities that hit Churachandpur district earlier this year has gone missing even though the same was released by the Revenue Department about a month ago.
The fund is meant for a total of 1396 households in Thanlon, Tipaimukh and Sangaikot areas of Churachandpur district, which bore the blunt of hailstorms and floods this summer.
While Rs 12 lakhs was earmarked for 1147 families within Thanlon sub-division for damages caused by hailstorms, Rs 1.2 lakh was sanctioned for 120 families in Tipaimukh area for the same and another Rs 1,95,950 was meant for 29 households in the Sangaikot area for flood relief.
An investigation conducted by a group of reporters here revealed that the money was released by the Revenue Department (Relief Cell), Government of Mahipur vide cheque No 0110050135 on October 23 and the same was handed over to an officer at the DC Office of Churachandpur here.
The money was then encashed on November 6, 2004 at the SBI/CCpur branch.
But surprisingly, the relief section at the DC Office/CCpur, through which the money is supposed to pass, is totally unaware of the whole affair.
Some of the would-be beneficiaries interviewed also said that they are totally blind on the case and enquiries at the DC Office here have also led to nowhere, they claimed.
They also added that they are very suspicious of the way in which the matter is handled by the officials.
Another report indicated that many outside parties are also taking interest in the case.
When confronted with these findings, the DC/ CCpur A Ibocha Singh admitted that he could not say when the same will be distributed.