Khuga dam scam
Committee takes up case, to meet on Jan 25
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 20: Following the detection of the fraudulent withdrawal/misutilisation of a total amount of Rs 51 crores in the IFCD and Power Department, the high power committee, headed by Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh, which was consituted to probe the matter, has taken up the case and fixed a meeting on January 25 .

While Rs 29 crores was utilised in a work not included under the Khuga Multipurpose Project, another Rs 22 crores was found withdrawn against a work not included in the work plan of the Power Department.

Khuga Dam captured on camera : File photo

According to a reliable source, the high power committee headed by the Chief Secretary will study the two cases of withdrawing/misutilising project funds fraudulently in a meeting scheduled for January 25 .

The source informed that fitting action will be initiated against the guilty officials under the Manipur Public Servants Personal Liability Act.

Even though the high power committee has recommended to the Chief Minister to take up action against some Ministers involved in other cases under the same Act, no tangible action has been initiated against any of the accused Minister till date, disclosed the source.

However, some officials involved in such fraud cases have been penalised by the high power committee by forcing them to pay back the amounts they swindled from their salaries and also by issuing stern warnings.

As one retired Superintending Engineer was found involved in withdrawing Rs 29 crores from the project fund of Khuga Multipurpose Project against a work not included under the project, his pension may be forfeited to recover the swindled amount, informed the source.

On the other hand, even as the Vigilance Department has recommended a major penalty against an Executive Engineer involved in siphoning off project fund to a work not included under the Khuga project, IFC Minister N Biren maintained that no official letter has been received in this regard till date.

But according to sources, the Vigilance Department has already recommended the State Government to recover the fraudulently withdrawn amount from the EE under the Manipur Public Servant Personal Liability Act.

The State Cabinet has also decided to apply the Act after an enquiry.