GAD found sleeping over from issuing supply tender in last 11 yrs
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 08 2013: With no tender notification found served for supplying the required items to the Government Administrative Department (GAD) for the last 11 years, an Estimate Committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly has expressed serious concern over the existing 'uncontrolled' system in the department.

A team of the Estimate Committee today went for an inspection visit to the godown of GAD located in 1st MR Banquet Hall following reports on irregularities in the functioning of the department.

GAD is normally assigned to keep the various decoration items meant to be used at the time of visits of VVIPs in the State.

The inspection team led by MLA Dr Ng Bijoy, Chairman of the Estimate Committee also included its members including MLA Th Bishwarjit; MLA Karam Shyam; MLA RK Imo; Commissioner of GAD Norbert Disinang and its Under Secretary Rothangbungi.

Accompanied by media persons, the team went to inspect the goods supposedly being kept in the godown of GAD at 1st MR Banquet Hall around 11 am today.

Chairman of Estimate Committee Dr Ng Bijoy grilling officials of GAD

During the inspection, the team came across the red carpet which was used during the visit of then President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil to Imphal on March 10, 2011 was lying in a condition indicating that it has never been used ever again without even a scrap of dirt on it.

In the room, where Kanats and shamiyanas were supposed to be kept, was found empty, except for goods belonging to 1st MR.When enquired about the goods procured by GAD from time to time, the list of available goods in GAD, their rates, and the registers where the issue and receipt of goods are being maintained, the officials of the department were unable to provide any answer to the inspection team.

On finding various irregularities in the functioning of GAD, the Estimate Committee expressed serious concern and concluded that department might have paid some amount and used the decorative items including kanats, shamiyanas, carpets and others from some agencies as none of the goods supposedly procured from the funds of the State exchequer were found in the godown of GAD.

During the course of the inspection visit, the Estimate Committee also shocked to learn that GAD has not issued any tender notification for supplying the required items to it for the last 11 years.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the inspection visit, MLA Ng Bijoy informed that the report of the inspection team and their findings would be brought up in the next Assembly session for taking up necessary actions.

Today's inspection visit primarily aims at checking whether the public money is being used in the most accurate manner or not and the visit has given an opportunity to GAD to come out clean, MLA Ng Bijoy observed.

He also informed that GAD has three approved suppliers namely MS Allied Agency; MS Monalisa and MS Manipur Trade Centre.

Among the three agencies, MS Allied Agency and MS Manipur Trade Centre belonged to a single owner by the name of Shukdev Bhatia.

So, there is strong apprehensions that these agencies seldom buy goods, instead use the required goods from others on rental basis.

Chairman of the Estimate Committee also gave necessary instruction to Commissioner of GAD Norbert Disinang and Under Secretary Rothangbungi for paying proper attention to the functioning of the department.