In the absense of regular Director : Agri Dept fails to submit bills
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 22 2014 :
In spite of the Government's order to submit bills to relevant Treasury offices on or before March 25 for funds which should be withdrawn during the financial year 2013-14, Agriculture Department is still unable to submit necessary bills on account of the absence of a Director.
It is generally understood that the Director does the work of fund allocation, issuance of sanction orders and release of sanction orders to DDOs concerned.
The DDOs then send the bills to relevant Treasury offices for withdrawal of fund.
However, in the absence of a Director, there is no one in Agriculture Department at present to do these works of fund allocation and release of sanction orders.
There is no authority in the department whose sanction orders would be accepted by the Treasury offices.
A huge amount of fund allocated to the department may get lapsed if the existing situation continues for any longer, said some official sources.
Nonetheless, maximum efforts are being put in to obtain due permission of Finance Department so as to withdraw some essential funds under AO headquarters although there is no Director at present.
All these efforts would go in vain and the left over funds would get lapsed in case Finance Department refuses to give necessary sanction.
The post of Agriculture Director remains vacant since last Director G Shamu Kabui retired on February 28 this year.
Out of five subordinate officers who are eligible to succeed Shamu Kabui as Director, two officers listed in serial numbers 1 and 2 were found involved in fraudulent withdrawal of the department's fund.
The Government is still unable to decide whether one of the two officers known for financial indiscipline should be appointed Director or the Director should be appointed from amongst the three officers listed below them.
Now, the election notification has been already issued implying that appointment of Director during this period would mean violation of the election code of conduct.
If the Director must be appointed as a matter of urgency, it requires due permission from the Election Commission of India, added the sources.