Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 15:
Following the expose' by The Sangai Express on August 24 that funds for the development of three play grounds in Ukhrul district have been withdrawn without any work being done, the State Government has got its act together and has started the process of recovering the money from the persons who withdrew it.
Following inputs from a well placed source, The Sangai Express had reported on August 24 that the funds for the construction of three playgrounds have been withdrawn without executing the work and a spot conducted by the Deputy Commissioner of the district had confirmed this.
During the time of the former DC of Ukhrul Dr Suhel Akhtar and the then YAS Minister A Aza, a sum of Rs 5 lakh each was earmarked for three play grounds to come up at Ringui village, Tungou village and Chingjaroi village in Ukhrul district.
After it came to light that the money has been withdrawn without any work being done, the present DC conducted a spot inquiry and discovered that Ringui and Tungou are one village and not two.
The source said that though the funds for the playgrounds were supposed to be entered in the account of the District Rural Development Agency, it was not done so.
On the other hand the cheques for the amount were withdrawn straight from the Secretariat branch of the SBI by a highly placed officer.
Acting on the report carried in this paper, the Government cracked the whip against the fraudulent withdrawal of the funds meant for the construction of the playgrounds and have set in motion process to recover at least Rs 12 lakhs from those responsible for withdrawing it, further said the source.
The Ukhrul Deputy Commissioner is also all set to submit a report of the spot inquiry conducted by him to the Government at the soonest possible time, added the source.