'Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) fund misappropriated'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 03 2013 :
Chairman and Members of the Village Authority and local leaders of Old Takou Village had filed a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong in 2011 about the unlawful utilization of Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) fund for the later's legitimate action.
According to a press release of the Village Authority, the complaint stated that the watershed committee was formed in the village in connivance with the local politicians without the knowledge and consent of the existing local village authority.
This was in contravention of the existing administrative guidelines, otherwise known as 'Common guidelines for watershed development project 2008' issued by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Govt of India, the release added.
It then stated, Kasutlakbou and his group have formed the IWMP/Watershed committee in the name of 'Santing Village' which has been deserted for the past 20 years during Kuki-Naga ethnic clash.
The committee did not produce vouchers and expenditure accounts.
Social audit is also not being allowed which is contrary to the existing guidelines.
There is no room provided to arrange physical, financial and social audit of the works undertaken which justifies illegal implication in the work.
The said committee had not maintained transparent management and effective accounting procedures and the village authority had nothing to play their significant role as envisaged and as such it is full of illegal practices which is punishable under the law, the release cited the complaint as stated.