Traffic lights scam : Engineers give their side of story
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 24 2017:
Retired
PWD Chief Engineer M
Lokendro and SE L Kumar
who was suspended regarding
the traffic lights scam have
appealed to the authority
concerned to investigate the
enquiry report thoroughly and
take up the necessary steps
accordingly.
Speaking to media persons
today, Retd PWD Chief Engineer
M Lokendro said that
the Ministry of Urban Development
under the
Government of India, sanctioned
Rs 193.75 lakh to
MAHUD for the installation
of traffic lights at specific
junctions of the State during
2005-06.
Pointing out that
MAHUD paid the sanctioned
amount to National Building
Construction Committee
(NBCC) for installation of
traffic signal lights, he said
that MAHUD withdrew the
funds after NBCC refused to
take the part of Executive
agent and in 2009, deposited
Rs 104.97 lakh (Rs 95,31,516
for the first phase and Rs
9.66 lakh as State share) to
PWD and the work began
shortly there after.
He pointed out that he
became the Chief Engineer on
November 30, 2009 and
signed the utilisation certificate
for the second instalment
of the funds after he had submitted
the first utilisation
certificate for the first instalments.
He clarified that the utilisation
certificate was signed not
only by the PWD Chief Engineer but also the MAHUD Commissioner.
Lokendro claimed that the
main responsibility of the installation of traffic signal lights and the
submission of utilisation certificates rested with MAHUD adding
that he had signed the utilisation certificate only to procure the
second instalment of the funds.
Speaking to media persons, SE
(Electrical) L Kumar, who was suspended according to charges in
the enquiry report, clarified that during the installation of the traffic
signal lights, he only worked as Surveyor of works for the work
circle and pointed out that PWD was simply the executive agent
and the main responsibility was with MAHUD.