Shyamkumar demands resignation of Minister Ngajokpa over swindling of PMGSY funds
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 08 2014 : Pointing out that the ambitious PMGSY scheme is in a mess due to alleged swindling of funds by Ministers in connivance with influential individuals, MLA Shyamkumar of All India Trinamool Congress, Manipur State has demanded resignation of Francis Ngajokpa, Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj for his alleged indulgence in misappropriation of funds of the scheme.

Addressing a press meet at his residential quarter, MLA Shyamkumar said that funds sanctioned under PMGSY are for various benefits including restoration of deplorable roads in the State, but due to the insincerity and misappropriation of funds on the part of the concerned authorities entrusted with implementation of the scheme, conditions of roads have deteriorated further.

Alleging that an amount of Rs 42 crore sanctioned for taking up phase nine of the scheme has been lost, the MLA lamented that contractors assigned with works of the scheme have not taken up any road restoration works starting from phase one of the scheme, though funds sanctioned for the said works were withdrawn by them.

Even Ministers took certain percentage of the fund amount sanctioned for implementation of the scheme for granting works to the concerned contractors.

Such erroneous act has attributed to deplorable conditions of roads in different parts of the State, the MLA further alleged.

He cautioned that the ongoing tender for taking up phase ten work of the scheme should not be awarded to those contractors who have already assigned with works of the scheme earlier.

Asserting that quality control work of the scheme would be maintained, if works of the scheme were entrusted to competent and sincere contractors, he maintained that AITC Manipur State would conduct field visit to inspect the works taken up during phase five up to phase eight of the scheme.

The field visit would be conducted after taking permission from Union Panchayati Raj Minister.

Detailed report of the visit would be sent to it after the visit, he informed.

Daring the government for a debate on the rampant misappropriation of funds sanctioned for implementation of the scheme, he concluded that the ambitious PMGSY scheme has been reduced to a mess which is due to insincerity and corruption on the parts of the concerned contractors and Minister Francis Ngajokpa, otherwise many roads which are in dilapidated state would have been restored.

Meanwhile, the Manipuri Students Federation (MSF) has strongly alleged that works under PMGSY implemented by Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency (MSRRDA) have not fulfilled the anticipated quality.

In a press meet held at its office today, MSF Advisor LC Romesh has drawn the attention of concerned Minister Francis Ngajokpa to look into the matter of implementing the PMGSY.

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