Loktak scam pegged at Rs 400 crores
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 15 2015 : The total amount sanctioned for removal of phumdis from Loktak Lake and allegedly misappropriated was Rs 400 crore, not just Rs 224 crore as reported earlier.

Sources informed that the Loktak Development Authority submitted a DPR of Rs 400 crore to the Planning Commission in 2007 for the Loktak Lake Management and Conservation Project which was aimed at removing phumdis and develop the lake as a tourist spot.

After the project was given administrative approval, an official meeting was held on August 5, 2008 with Chief Minister O Ibobi, who is also the LDA Chairman, in the chair in his office chamber.

The meeting, after flouting all established rules and norms of PWD, decided to rope in Hyderabad based PCL as the project's work agency and a sum of Rs 3.61 crore was handed over to the agency.

Forest and Environment Minister Th Debendra, the then Chief Secretary, the LDA Project Director and the Principal Secretary (Finance) were present at the meeting.

As decided at the meeting, at least 10 lakh cubic metre of phumdis should be removed within two months and this should be done on trial basis at the rate of Rs 21.80 for every one cubic metre of phumdi.

Without checking whether the project was being executed at the desired pace which was in the trial stage, LDA handed over Rs 224,39,14,035 to K Pro Infra Works Private Limited based at Delhi for removing phumdis.

The Delhi based company somehow turned out to be the lone bidder for the project.

Strangely, authorised capital of the particular work agency was just Rs 10 lakh.

Whereas its local office is located at Shop no 11, Babupara, Imphal, its proprietor was never disclosed which only heightened the Government of India's suspicion, said the sources.

Further, LDA gave Rs 22 crore to K Pro Infra Works Private Limited as mobilization fund without any interest in the first week of November, 2009 .

It was with a view to convince both the Government of India and the Planning Commission, and obtain this substantial amount of money that the Loktak Lake Protection Bill 2006 was passed in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

In the name of removing phumdis, around 1000 houses/huts built on phumdis were dismantled and burnt down after giving Rs 40,000 for each house under rehabilitation programme.

There is no clear report on the number of houses dismantled, number of people who have been given compensation and the total amount thus spent.

The State Government is yet to give satisfactory reply to some of these questions raised by the all Loktak Lake Area Fishermen Union.

Notably, Government authority are yet to reply to the RTI application filed by BJP Manipur Pradesh, RTI Wing even though the application was filed about two months back.

After the issue reached the PMO, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances was directed to investigate the matter.

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