Articles for use during high profile visits missing
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 10 2013:
Different types of articles worth around Rs 30 lakhs supplied to GAD through agencies for use during the President's and Prime Minister's visit to the State have vanished without any trace leaving the officials concerned under immense pressure in view of the scheduled visit of President Pranab Mukherjee on April 15 .
Notably, hectic preparations are being made for the President's visit who is set to grace the 60th foundation day of Adimjati Shiksha Ashram, Chingmeirong and unveil a diamond jubilee stone of the Ashram.
The President of India visited Manipur on March 10, 2011 followed by the Prime Minister in November same year.
Different types of goods worth around Rs 30 lakhs were supplied to GAD through agencies for use during the President's and the Prime Minister's visits.
But all those articles were not found anywhere when GAD officials looked up for them for use during President Pranab Mukherjee's visit.
According to information received by the press, officials have no idea how the articles vanished or where they were used.
If the goods were distributed to different departments, GAD should have proper records.
As the goods supplied through agencies could not be traced, it is suspected that similar articles were hired from a private tent house in the earlier visits of the President and the Prime Minister.
Goods supplied to GAD included a water-proof samiyana of 25x25 square feet for use at Tulihal Airport, 40 karnats, one red woollen carpet, one red floor mat, one non-woollen mat, three trans-Asia woollen carpet, one office table (executive model) and six featherlight office chairs.
These articles were supplied to GAD by M/S Allied Agencies and Manipur Trade Centre, Paona Bazar.
Even as all these articles have vanished without any trace, there is no record of auctioning them.
Interestingly, bills for the supplied items have not been paid till date.
It was at the instruction of the Chief Secretary to clear the bills that GAD officials looked up for the articles which were not found anywhere.
Every time the President or the Prime Minister visit Manipur, Finance Department sanctions special LOCs to GAD.
Whereas the bills for the goods supplied earlier have not been cleared, it is suspected that the amount sanctioned through LOCs have been swindled by some officials.
Vigilance Department need to look into the matter and check such wrongful practice of swindling public money in the name of high profile visits of VVIPs to the State, added the source.