Phungzathang sets record straight
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 14 2013: Referring to the news items about disappearance of certain items supplied to GAD for use during high-profile visits of VVIPs to the State and subsequent recovery of unused red woollen carpets, Health and GAD Minister Phungzathang Tonsing has clarified that GAD (store section) properly maintains stocks register, receipts and issue registers of store materials since long time.

Speaking to some media persons at his Paite Veng residence today, Phungzathang said that a minute discussion was held on the matter with concerned officials, and the meeting decided to take action against any official involved if found guilty as well as the agencies namely M/S Allied Agency and M/S Manipur Trade Centre, both based at Paona Bazar.

He further clarified that he was not GAD Minister when the lost items were supplied to the department in connection with President Pratibha Devising Patil's and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the State in 2011 .

As for the Rs 15 lakhs sanctioned during President Pranab Mukherjee's visit last month, detail itemwise expenditures for payment of charges of Classic Hotel and Hotel Imphal where the President's entourage were accommodated, installation of temporary telephone hotlines for the visiting VVIPs, cultural programmes with State Dinners, memento/gift, hiring of sofa sets, chairs and labour charges etc.

The detail itemwise expenditures are maintained by the office, Phungzathang said.

Even though it was alleged that GAD did not float ope tender for the last 11 years, the department has started floating open tender for supplying material items including catering/canteens of Manipur Bhavans, New Delhi and Kolkata, he added.

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