Imphal, July 26 2010: As per observation and recommendation of Public Accounts Committee (2009-10), the committee recommended and cautioned the Manipur public health and engineering department (PHED) to strictly adhere to the financial rules while purchasing stores and also to avoid practice of purchasing stores much in advance of actual requirement in future.

The Public Account Committee (PAC) comprised of opposition leader O.Joy Singh as Chairman while the members (all MLAs) included V.Hangkhalian, Morung Makunga, Ngursanglur, Dr..IIbohalbi, Y.Surchandra Singh and Usham Deben Singh.

The PAC report was tabled on the floor of the House on Monday.

On the agriculture department, the committee fumed that the Centrally sponsored scheme funds for oil seed production programme (OPP) amounting to Rs.26.03 lakhs was drawn from treasury and retained by drawing and disbursing officer (DDO) for period ranging from 5 to 14 months in violation of Central Treasury Rules (CTR), saying no money should be drawn from the treasury unless required for immediate disbursement in future.

It also recommended that the government to waive the full cost of pump-sets given to the farmers (beneficiaries) for better yield of agriculture products and to inspect from time to time to ascertain the beneficiaries are utilizing properly.

The PAC also cautioned the irrigation and flood control department (IFCD) all out efforts be made to complete major works within the stipulated scheduled dates of their completion as two major works after incurring an expenditure of Rs.12.75 lakhs remained incomplete even after a lapse of more than four and half years from the scheduled date of their completion.

Warning the public works department (PWD) for its irresponsible over the reply or explanatory notes from commissioner (works), the PAC recommended the state government to initiated a thorough investigation into the matter and fix responsibility to the erring officer or official and report thereon be submitted to the committee (PAC) within three months counting from today.

The PAC was also shocked to learn that three cheques to tune of Rs.9.45 lakhs issued to a contractor were enchased without entering in the cash book and recommend applying Central Treasury Rules (CTR) while issuing cheques to contractors.

The PAC report also said that the department had billed Rs.12.66 lakhs in excess of the quantity of work possible beyond the capacity of machinery used.

To the astonishment of the PAC, the department had made advance payment to M/s Sanyajee Ispat Ltd, Gauhati for supply of iron rods without any security which led to a loss Rs.49.41 lakhs to the government due to non-delivery of the same materials.

Citing undue benefit to a contractor, the committee wonders and pointed out that the estimate of the work was framed for extracting sand and stone for singling from Thonjaorok quarry, 59 kms away from the work site instead of extracting the same from Serou which is just 20 kms.

From the work site.

On veterinary and animal husbandry department, PAC pointed out that the justification submitted by the department are not acceptable as the tender committee failed to do a comparative study of rates quoted by the firms besides the tender committee ignored the first and second lowest rate quotations by accepting the third lowest rate quoted by the Imphal based firm.

Viewing seriously for unresponsive attitude on the part of taxation department, the PAC recommended efforts to realize the remaining tax from 50 transport agencies with a penalty to all the defaulting agencies and a report be submitted to the committee (PAC) within three months counting from today.

On Transport department, PAC recommended that the taxation and transport department should work in close collaboration to realize the outstanding tax from the defaulters and deposit the same into the government account within three month time starting from today, saying professional tax amounting to Rs.4.29 lakhs is yet to be recovered from 270 mill owners and another Rs.1.93 lakh was due from 193 vehicle permit holders.

The PAC was dismayed to learn that inaction on the part of the power department to collect outstanding electricity charges from 39 government employees while they were vacating their respective quarters resulted in non-realization of electricity charges amounting to Rs.3.51 lakhs.

On youth and sports department, the committee said that it was aghast to know that the department had incurred an avoidable expenditure to tune of Rs.105 crores on account of surcharge on electricity bills due to non-payment on time and due to lack of scrutiny of bills.

On commerce and industry department, PAC mentioned its astonishment as three sets of bamboo processing machinery costing Rs.9,63,664 each set up in three centres in Tamenglong, Churchandpur and Imphal East district remained idle since two and half years.

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