Discrepancies writ large, allege DESAM, AIMS
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 16 2020:
DESAM and AIMS have alleged that they have come across several acts of discrepancies and misappropriation of public funds in the development works implemented by Education Department's Education Engineering Wing (EEW) .
Speaking to media persons at DESAM office, Kwakeithel today, DESAM secretary general Leishangthem Lamyanba alleged that a top ranking officer of EEW in collusion with some subordinate officers has been conspiring to misappropriate public funds sanctioned for the development works of DM University and Engineering College, Heirok.
Drawings for these construction works were prepared and drawn by officers and staff of EEW.
But the said top ranking officer has been conspiring to withdraw a huge sum amounting to crores as drawing fee by using the name of a private firm, Lamyanba alleged.
He then demanded befitting action against the said officer and other officials involved in the fraud.
The Education Minister and the Chief Minister should be held accountable for any untoward incident resulting out of this fraudulence, he said.
An architect Benson Chabungbam who was also present at the press meet said that he and another architect were hired by EEW to help in drawing the blueprints of the construction works.
He said that they helped in drawing the blueprints staring from March 2019 and received due emolument/fee after the EEW issued an official order in this regard.
In October 2019, the top officer reportedly told Benson that preparation of DPR had ben completed and he would like to use the name of his (Benson) firm.
To this, Benson asked for an official order.
"On the assurance that the necessary official order would be issued, I gave my signature but I had no idea about what was going on inside EEW", Benson said.
AIMS president Romen Khumujam said that the two student bodies would not remain silent against any such attempt to misappropriate public money and said that they believe the Government would take up necessary action urgently.