Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 03 2010:
Implementation of a number of developmental programme under the Horticulture Department in Chandel district has failed to take off on account of extortion by armed underground groups and financial mismanagement of State Government officials.
During 2009-2010, Horticulture Department had taken up land development work in some villages of the district.
Chalyang, Kotsophai and Sahumphai are among the villages identified for the land development.
In these three beneficiary villages, the Department was supposed to provide Rs 2.5 lakhs but only Rs 45,000 had been given.
Instead of the stipulated amount, the Department has given only Rs 15,000 each respectively to village chief of Chalyang Ngamshei Baite, village chief of Kotsophai Chungkholen Haokip and village chief of Sahumphai Lhunkholen Mate.
Not happy with that, the three village chiefs lodged complaint with the District Horticulture officer CR Beningtha but no positive response had been given as yet.
Afterward, the three village chiefs lodged another complaint to the MLA of Chandel Assembly segment Thangkholun Haokip.
Talking to The Sangai Express in connection with this case, MLA Thangkholun Haokip informed that out of the total sanctioned amount of Rs 2.5 lakh, one of the beneficiary villages was supposed to get Rs 65,000, another village supposed to get Rs 1 lakh while the third village was entitled Rs 65,000.However, each of these villages have been given only Rs 15,000 .
When the MLA brought up with matter with the District Horticulture Officer, he was informed that the fund had been taken away by UG groups.
Thereby, the land development work failed as the required fund had not been provided.
The MLA, however, expressed suspicion of financial mismanagement by officials of the Horticulture Department, Chandel for the failure of implementing developmental schemes in the district as well.
In this regard, the MLA recalled that when the officials conveyed to him that the implementation of developmental schemes had failed as various UG groups have taken away the fund, he was shown receipts issued in the name of Kuki Liberation Army indicating that Rs 6,80,000 had been taken in three instalments.
According to these receipts, Kuki Liberation Army had taken the first instalment of Rs 1,50,000 on 17-4-2004, the second instalment of Rs 2,00,000 on 16-3-2010 and the third instalment of Rs 3,30,000 on 5-5-2010 .
The MLA clarified that there is no Kuki Liberation Army in Chandel district and the officials of the Department could not provide any evidence to substantiate that other UG groups like NSCN (IM), UKLF, etc have also siphoned off the developmental fund meant for the district.