Fund misuse slur on DCs:: Rs 1.41 crores for land survey used up in buying computers
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 10 2013: The fund from the Central Government meant for conducting land surveys and updating data under the National Land Records Modernization Programme has been misused by the Deputy Commissioners of four valley districts of the State in buying computers without the approval of State Government.

According to a reliable source, the Central Government had released Rs.1.41 crores for the National Land Records Modernization Programme during 2008-09.The said amount was again sanctioned to the Deputy Commissioners concerned by the State Government at the near end of the tenure of SPF-II.

The amount sanctioned for Imphal West was Rs.36.45 lakhs, Rs.33.075 lakhs for Imphal East, Rs.36.075 lakhs for Thoubal and Rs.36.075 lakhs for Bishnupur.

The fund was sanctioned near the time of General Election and so no proper consultation was held regarding its utilization.

The fund was sanctioned to State Revenue Department by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance after framing certain guidelines.

The first instalment of the fund was directly handed over to the Deputy Commissioners of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal as per the guidelines.

However, the fund could not be utilized for quite a long time.

The State Revenue Department also failed to look into the utilization of this fund.

The purchase of computers, printers and other items by the four Deputy Commissioners came to light only when the Centre asked for the utilization certificate of the sanctioned fund.

The Ministry has sanctioned the fund for conducting new land surveys in four valley districts and updating the existing data thereof.

But, there was not a single record of land survey conducted under the jurisdiction of the four Deputy Commissioners.

The DCs have no authority to conduct land surveys of their own.

They have to seek permission from the Directorate of Land Settlement, the source added.

An official of Land Settlement told Hueiyen Lanpao that the Deputy Commissioners have not asked for requisition of any staff for land survey in the past few years.

It would be out of their responsibility if they happened to conduct the land surveys without the officials of Land Settlement.

The Deputy Commissioners should have sought permission from the State Government if they wished to purchase the computers.

But, so far no Deputy Commissioner has asked for permission to the State Government, the official stated.

The utilization certificates of the fund have also not been submitted by the Deputy Commissioners concerned even if the fund was released long time back.

When asked about the misuse of fund by Deputy Commissioners, Revenue Minister Th Devendra said that the Revenue Department is investigating into the failure for submission of utilization certificates.

Strict action will be taken against the Deputy Commissioners if they were found involved in fund misappropriation, he assured.

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