Minister tutors Cong chief on PAC matters
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 13 2022:
While maintaining that any information available with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Manipur Legislative Assembly cannot be shared to the media before tabling the same in the House, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RD & PR) minister Y Khemchand said that it was breach of privilege of the House that MPCC president K Meghachandra shared PAC information on social media.
While accusing MPCC president K Meghachandra of lacking knowledge on functioning of PAC, minister Y Khemchand appealed to senior Congress leaders of the state to teach the MPCC president thorough knowledge on PAC functioning.
Regarding Meghachandra's allegation of irregularities in construction of PMGSY road in Thanlon block of Churachandpur district namely Kalkapkot to Gamhui part 2 and 3, Y Khemchand told media persons on Tuesday that he is yet to comment on MPCC president's allegation made through media as the matter is yet to be tabled in the House and it amounts to breach of privilege or contempt of committee (PAC) or contempt of House.
In September this year, the MPCC president had alleged withdrawal of Rs 300 crore PMGSY fund fraudulently and then alleged missing of Rs 1,700 crore in October and missing of Rs 7/8 crore again in November this year but clarification to all these allegations had been made from his side, Khemchand said and termed K Meghachandra's repeated allegations as unfortunate and malicious.
According to Khemchand, efforts are on for timely completion of works undertaken under PMGSY package No 2 worth Rs 300 crore.
Officials along with media persons are inspecting works undertaken in both hills and valley and other places under the package and steps to punish those found guilty in implementation of some works had already been taken up, he said, adding that four engineers of the department had already been suspended.
Even retired officials found guilty in implementation of works will not be spared and a written communique in this regard has been made to DP, he added.
Regarding the MPCC president's allegation of irregularities in construction of PMGSY road from Kalkapkot to Gamhui part 2 and 3 in Thanlon block of Churachandpur district, Khemchand said that the PAC of Manipur Legislative Assembly had on November 4, 2022 sought information relating to PMGSY phase II and Rural Engineering Department (MSRRDA) had tabled answers for some works on November 21, 2022.Unfortunately, some of the answers tabled by Rural Engineering Department to PAC were found uploaded on the official Facebook page of Congress party on December 9, Khemchand said, and termed it very unfortunate.
As per Rule No 14 and Rule No 18 of the Rules of Procedure of Committee on Public Accounts Internal Working and sub-rule 2 and 3 of Rule No 253 of the Conduct of Business, any information available with PAC cannot be shared to media before tabling the same in the House.
However, K Meghachandra despite being the MPCC president and chairman of PAC of Manipur Legislative Assembly shared information available with PAC to media without seeking approval of the Speaker just to enhance his image and malign image of the government, Khemchand said.
The MPCC president should have discussed with party's senior leaders if he had any doubt on functioning of PAC, Khemchand said and advised Meghachandra to digest everything about the functioning of PAC before going to the media.