Imphal, October 10:: Even as the storm kicked up by the controversy over the fraudulently withdrawal of over Rs 80 lakhs in Ukhrul district is yet to settle down, another scam has surfaced, this time at Tamenglong district.

The sum involved is a handsome Rs 40 lakhs and like the Ukhrul case too, the cheques for this amount were issued without any work being done.

In the middle of the storm is again the PWD.

Disclosing this, a highly placed source said that the cheques for the said amount were issued for works earmarked at Tousem and Tamei area in Tamenglong district.

The source however said that it is not very sure whether the cheques were actually encashed or not.

The source said that the works pertain to 5 projects which were not included in the works programme.

The cheques were issued after transferring the works to the maintenance head.

For maintenance work, all cheques issued generally do not exceed the Rs 1 lakh mark, said the source.

However since cheques for Rs 40 lakhs have been issued for 5 works this means Rs 8 lakhs were issued for each maintenance work, which is against the accepted norms and practices, said the source further.

The works for which the cheques were issued without any work being executed include; Maintenance of Keiphundai-Tousem road (0-5.65 kms) (SH: P/L stone dry pitching 24-30 kms, amount Rs 8 lakhs); maintenance of Keiphundai-Tousem road (SH: P/L stone dry pitching 30-36 kms, amount Rs 8 lakhs); road maintenance from Saramba to Namtiram (0-8 kms) (SH: P/L stone dry pitching, amount Rs 8 lakhs); maintenance of LT road (SH : providing of pot hole fillings 101 kms to 107 kms, amount Rs 8 lakhs); maintenance of LT road (SH: providing of pot hole filling 107 kms to 113 kms) amount Rs 8 lakhs).

President of Zeliangrong Youth Front, Tousem zone told the press, "Forget about any work being done.

No contractor was sighted at the mentioned places in 2003-04".The then Works Minister is a representative from Tamenglong district, said the youth leader and added that the Chief Minister should not remain quiet but pull all the guilty involved in the scam.

According to further information received here, there are more skeletons in the cupboard waiting to tumble out.

Sources said that cheques for about Rs 1 crore have been issued for works which were never executed in Sadar Hills area.

A reliable source said that FCS Minister Ngamthang Haokip has started looking into the matter and to ascertain under what circumstances the cheques were issued.

Meanwhile the Government has issued an order to institute a committee to cross check and verify whether works have been exactly executed for all the cheques which have been issued but are yet to be encashed.

An order to this effect has been issued by the Deputy Secretary (Works) G Joy R Naga.

The Committee is being headed by the Principal Secretary (Works) AE Ahmed as the Chairman and will consist of the Chief Engineer (Works) as the member.

The Committee will inspect each case and will conduct spot verifications to ascertain whether the works have been actually completed or not.

The Committee will also submit a report of their findings.

The Chief Secretary has also been asked to endorse tour programmes for the Committee to conduct its spot verification exercise.

After examining the cases, the Committee will work out a priority list and norms will be worked out to release the money according to the availability of resources.

The Government has also notified that priority should be given to Central sponsored schemes, Central programme schemes and works taken up under the Non Lapsable Pool of Resources.

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