Alleged PMGSY scam : MPCC demands CBI probe
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 19 2022:
Expressing strong suspicion of possible involvement of Ministers in looting huge amount of money sanctioned for PMGSY works, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has demanded a thorough investigation by CBI into the PMGSY scams.
A Congress team led by MPCC president K Meghachandra who is also the Chairman of the State Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) made a field inspection of the 16 Kms long road from Phungyar road to Ningthi village of Kamjong district.
The total project cost of the road construction work which is divided into two packages is Rs 13.59 crore.
The estimated cost of package number MN09152 is Rs 765.59 lakh.
This package was allotted to HVS Construction Private Limited.
The second package (MN0985) was allotted to contractor KS Ngaranmi and its total cost is Rs 593.09 lakh.
Speaking to media persons after inspecting the road construction work, MPCC president K Meghachandra said that completion report was already sent to the Minister concerned even though neither WBM stage has been completed nor black-topping done.
Moreover, the Government has already released around Rs 13.59 crore, he said.
Amidst numerous complaints of blatant discre- pancies in implementing PMGSY works in Chura-chandpur, Tameng-long and Noney districts, MPCC came across media reports about withdrawal of huge amounts without properly executing PMGSY works in Kamjong district, Meghachandra said.
"Subsequent upon the media report, we made a spot inspection of Ningthi road construction work", he said.
Even though money had been withdrawn two/three times against most of the packages, none of the works were properly executed, he asserted.
Maintaining that most of the PMGSY works had failed in Manipur, the MPCC president said that they have been thinking of taking the matter to the level of the Prime Minister and the Union Rural Development Minister as the State Government has done nothing although the same matter has been pointed out repeatedly.
He clarified that the Congress party has no personal grudge against any official of the Rural Engineering Department.
Expressing strong suspicion of possible connivance between the department and the Minister concerned in looting huge amounts of PMGSY funds without properly executing the sanctioned works, the MPCC president demanded a CBI enquiry into the PMGSY scam.
Asserting that the Government's development programmes were not reaching hill areas, Meghachandra added that they would continue field inspection of road construction works sanctioned under PMGSY in different districts of the State.