Non-existent contractor embezzled IMC funds: Joykisan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 28 2022: Thangmeiband AC MLA Khumukcham Joykisan has stated that crores of rupees have been misappropriated from Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) under the guise of carrying out various developmental projects in 27 wards of the Corporation, by someone posing as a contractor while using a non-existent identity.

Addressing a press meet held at his Khoyathong residence here on Saturday, Joykisan informed that several work orders were issued and funds sanctioned on May 23 for carrying out various development works in wards under IMC.

However, no work was taken up.

As such, a request was made through the media to the contractor concerned to carry out the works but nothing was done even after six days.

In this regard, Joykisan said, he conducted a detailed investigation and found dis crepancies in the contractual works of IMC.

Most of IMC's works were specified to have been taken up by a contractor named "GG Rongmei" from Tarung.

However, no "GG Rongmei" was found in Tarung, which falls under Thangmeiband AC.

Thus, it is likely that someone used the name and embezzled huge amount of money from IMC.

"GG Rongmei" does not exist and is basically a ghost', "conjured" up to steal money from the public, he remarked.

Regarding the retaining wall around Khoyathong community pond, which is located close to his residence; the MLA said that the construction of the wall had already been completed.

However, a work order issued by the IMC included the construction of the retaining wall, with the IMC executive officer signing the work order in the name of "GG Rongmei" on July 30, 2021 .

This matter was investigated and it was found that IMC had reportedly sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for each 27 wards under its jurisdiction in the name of preserving the local ponds.

Similarly, a work order for construction of the retaining wall of a pond in Majorkhul under Ward no 25 was also found, with 60 percent of the funds already withdrawn.

However, when engineers visited the site, there was no pond in Majorkhul.

Meanwhile, the corporator of the Ward had written to IMC for taking up the work for Ibudhou Tokpa Pung Pond in DM College campus, but no work has been ever taken up at the pond till date, he added.

Joykisan continued that one of the works IMC assigned to "GG Rongmei" is the construction of a drain from Laipubam Sanjay Sharma to Aribam Prameshwar shop in Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai, at an estimated cost of Rs 42,51,282.However, the bizarre thing is that the stretch of road is not even 100 ft long.

As such, sanctioning of over Rs 42 lakh for this short road is questionable, especially considering the fact that no work was taken, even if it was just digging up the earth.

The MLA then said that when the IMC officials were enquired, they (IMC) responded that they had never seen or interacted with "GG Rongmei".

According to the officials, "GG Rongmei" used to send someone to collect the work orders and cheques from IMC.

Although it is questionable how could the officials give the contracts to some unknown person(s), they conveyed that "GG Rongmei" was an aggressive person, who even "threatened" IMC engineers not to visit the work sites.

Informing that a written report on this matter would be submitted to the Chief-Minister and the MAHUD minister, Joykisan, however, remarked that engineers have been suspended for taking money without doing any work and contractors blacklisted.

Recently, action was also taken up against an engineer of Public Works Department, which is appreciated.

"However, IMC's matter is highly unusual.

All of the contractors engaged by the Corporation in the past were known, but the one in this recent matter is completely unknown.

When awarding a contract, the signature of the contractor is required in the agreement, which must be done so in front of the engineers or the executive officers concerned.

The contract cannot be made against the general finance rule.

Thus, this entire situation could be regarded as the biggest fraud ever, meant to steal the money meant for public welfare", the MLA asserted.

As such, Joykisan urged the government to help identify who this "GG Rongmei" is and also, award befitting punishments to the person(s) involved in the matter.

He further urged for recovering the funds misappropriated by "GG Rongmei" and re-utilising them in development works.

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