Withdrawal of over Rs 5 Cr despite restrictions
Engineers served show cause notice
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 05 2022:
Show cause notice has been served on engineers concerned in connection with the drawing of over Rs 5 crore by some individuals/firms from Manipur State Rural Road Development Agency (MSRRDA) in defiance of an office memorandum issued by the same department on July 8, 2022 which categorically stated that no funds shall be released/disbursed without prior approval of the MSRRDA Chairman.
Speaking to some media persons at his Old Secretariat office today, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RD&PR) Minister Y Khemchand informed that Additional Chief Secretary (RD&PR) MH Khan has issued show cause notice to the engineers concerned.
Khemchand said that RD&PR Joint Secretary Ng Roben issued an order on July 8 this year saying that no one should draw any money from MSRRDA without approval of its Chairman.
Officers are bound to follow the Government's standing orders.
Relevant engineers have been asked to furnish a report by 5 pm of September 6 regarding the fraudulent withdrawal of fund, Khemchand said.
The next course of action would be determined after the report is received, he said.
Exuding confidence that the PMGSY Phase III would be sanctioned either within the current month or the next, the RD&PR Minister informed that a new technology developed by Germany would be used in constructing roads under PMGSY Phase III.
Roads constructed using this technology would last at least 25 years, he asserted.
Khemchand informed that some engineers have been already sent for training on the new technology.
Pointing out that PMGSY has been contributing significantly in constructing roads in rural areas of both the hill and valley districts, he claimed that construction of roads measuring 66.2 Kms in total has been completed since he took charge as the Minister of RD&PR.
So far, 39 works had been executed and it included 17 bridges and 22 roads, he said.
Routine maintenance works are currently going on at 35 places.
"I went to Senapati recently and inspected the PMGSY road construction works.
I went up to the point where construction of a road which should pass through Dzuko Valley was halted after some people of Nagaland opened fire," Khemchand said.
Many people of Senapati were saying that the particular road, if fully constructed for its entire length, could be a convenient route for tourists to visit Dzuko Valley, Khemchand conveyed.
He said that he would explore all options and consult the Chief Minister on how to complete the particular road construction work.