Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 10 2010:
Again, many people of Imphal East district are apprehensive whether the MGNREGS, earlier known as NREGS, can be implemented properly in Imphal East district this year too.
After the Centre has ceased further sanction of fund for Imphal East district on account of various anomalies like work found incompatible to the sanctioned amount, failure to implement the scheme in time and inability to submit utilization certificate etc during 2009-10 .
The Centre however has eased its restrictions and made necessary sanction for 2010-11 .
For the current year 2010-11, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 10,93,78,000 in two phases.
The amount of Rs 5,92,31,000 sanctioned in the first phase should have been utilised by May this year.
Rs 5,01,47,000 sanctioned in the second phase is lying in the DC's account intact without a single rupee being utilised till date.
As per guidelines of the MGNREGS, 50 per cent of the sanctioned amount should be deposited in the accounts of BDOs for Panchayats.
The remaining 50 per cent should be deposited in the account of the Chief Executive Officer or the Programme Officer or BDOs for Zilla Parishads and line departments.
The amount deposited in the first phase has been deposited in the account of BDOs for entrusting it to Panchayats.
Out of the total amount sanctioned in the first phase, around Rs 80 lakhs have been utilised so far.
With the first phase sanctioned fund entrusted to Panchayats in full, some sections have been demanding that the amount of Rs 5,01,47,000 sanctioned in the second phase should be deposited in the account of the CEO or the BDO or the Programme Officer in accordance with the guidelines and the Government order issued on June 14 this year which laid down that 25 per cent should be entrusted to Zilla Parishads and another 25 per cent to line department.
However, the DC is not supporting the idea of depositing the amount either in the account of the CEO or the Project Officer.
Citing failure to monitor fund, inability to submit reports to the Ministry of Rural Development
in time or failure to furnish financial statement and utilisation certificate in time when the fund is kept in the BDO's account, Imphal East DC Lakshmikumar on August 5 wrote to the Additional Chief Secretary (RD &PR) seeking clarification on how the fund should be released.
Meanwhile, the Adhyaksha, Up-Adhyaksha and Members of Imphal East Zilla Parishads lodged a complaint to the Chief Minister saying that MGNREGS fund has not been deposited in the account jointly operated by the CEO and the BDO by sidelining the Government order issued on June 14 .
Under the prevailing circumstances, many people are apprehensive that MGNREGS works could not be executed in time.