Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 05:
Even though the State Government has paved the way to release the salaries and pensions of Government employees and pensioners for the month of August from tomorrow, contractors have been left in the lurch as the Cash Drawal Authority has been put on hold.
What has added to the woes of the contractors is also the fact that though the Govt had paved the way for the CDA when the salaries and pensions for the months of April till June were released, the CDA could not be withdrawn as it was valid for only a single day! According to an independent probe conducted by The Sangai Express it is learnt that though the Govt had given the nod to the CDA the last time the salaries were released, the same could not be withdrawn as the State Finance Department had given only one day validity for the same to be withdrawn.
Moreover, that single day also happened to be the day when the RBI imposed its ban on encashment of Govt bills.
In an intriguing sleight of hand, the Finance Department issued the order for withdrawing the CDA, making March 31, the last day of the 2003-04 financial year, as the single valid day for withdrawing the CDA.
Since then contractors have not been able to withdraw their bills, leaving them in dire straits.
On March 31, the Finance Department issued an order, number 9/2/2003-FR (8) (pt-16)-1, clearing the way for the Works Department to withdraw a sum of Rs 1527 lakhs, with a catch.
The validity of the order was only for a single day.
On the same day again, the Finance Department issued another order, authorising the Works Department to withdraw Rs 203.21 lakhs under order number 9/2/2003-FR (8), with the same rider - valid only for one day.
Another order authorizing the Works Department to withdraw Rs 403.15 lakhs was also issued on the same day, again with the same condition.
This sum is also yet to be withdrawn till today.