Apprehension of fund misutilisation hangs heavy in the air
MPCB caught in a state of inertia
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 07 2012: Strong apprehension regarding irregularities in the utilization of annual budgetary allocation has emerged in Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

Reliable sources from the MPSB revealed that utilization of funds has not been audited since the past five years.

Although, the Board is being run under the State Forest and Environment Department, it is mandatory to audit its annual budgetary allocated funds as the Board is a statutory body.

Funds to the Board come not only from the State Government but also from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Ministry of Finance, the sources said.

Although, utilization certificates were sent from time to time to CPCB and Finance Ministry, no staff other than the higher echelons of the Board have any knowledge about the utilization of the funds received from these two sources.

Even though the Board must be run under a Chairman, the sources said, it is now not clear whether the post of Chairman is active or not.

Are the emissions from diesel auto rickshaws monitored by the MPCB ?

As such, no action could be initiated regarding payment of salaries to the staff and needful activities including preparation of fund proposal to be taken up in time, it added.

The sources further said that budgetary allocations for the fiscal year 2011-12 and current fiscal year are Rs 2 Crore and Rs 1.4 Crore respectively.

In the year 2011-12, Rs 98.30 lakh was utilised in payment of salaries and EPF of regular and contract staff, buying of furniture, computer printer, cartridge, vehicle maintenance and fuel charge, print and stationery, telephone, fax and internet charge, electric and water charges, hiring of vehicles for tour programmes and TA and DA charges etc.

In the said fiscal year, Rs 87.50 lakh was utilised in taking up seventeen works that included municipal solid waste management, water quality and water laboratory maintanence, bio-medical waste management, legal issues and legal fees, vehicle emission monitoring, plastic waste management, e-waste management, noise pollution monitoring, upgradation of air laboratory and air quality monitoring, industrial pollution management, information technology, general awareness programme, eco-club programme, office development (building/land), compilation of annual report and development of Langmeidong Eco Park.

Although, most of the works were actuated with the funds from the State Government, some works were also taken up with the funds from CPCB and Finance Ministry.

With the non-release of major chunk of this year's budgetary allocation of Rs 1.4 lakhs, not only major work could be taken up till date but also employees salaries could not be cleared since August this year.

The sources further said late release of fund in January and February next year could further fuel its misuse.