Slur cast over Wangkhem MLA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 09 2011: Representatives of Wangkhem Kendra Kanba Lup claimed to have unearthed involvement of the local MLA K Meghachandra in the misappropriation of Public Distribution System (PDS) items worth over Rs 4 crores.

Speaking to newspersons at the Wangkhem Bazar residence of one L Kadamjit this afternoon, Lup general secretary Laishram Nungshithoi said the matter came to light when a petition was filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by Laishram Chandrakishore, who is also an advisor of the Lup.

The RTI petition addressed to Director of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) was filed on September 7 this year seeking information with regard to distribution, if any, of PDS items to about 6000 households under the assembly constituency.

The RTI petitioner urged the Director for a detailed information on the distribution of PDS items within the period of April 2007 till August this year.

Consequent to the petition, the District Supply Officer, Thoubal namely RK Binoy in his reply on September 21 informed that a representative of the MLA identified as Kh Premnath had acquired various PDS items for the said period.

The PDS items provided to Premnath included 17,278.41 quintal of rice meant for AAY card holders of the assembly segment; 24,797.27 quintal of BPL rice; APL rice of 6,521.90 quintal; 1831 quintal of sugar; and 11,49,572 litres of kerosine oil, informed the general secretary.

Inspite of the acquisition record maintained in the DSO, Thoubal nearly 6000 AAY, BPL or APL card holders in Wangkhem AC are living proof that they have not received the said PDS items, he claimed while asserting that siphoning off of such a large quantity of essential commodities is no less than committing one of the most severe crimes.

Nungshithoi insisted that the MLA and his accomplices should be pulled up and punished according to law.

The RTI petitioner Chandrakishore, who was also present at the media briefing observed that people of Wangkhem AC have been deprived of a sincere public leader for decades due to which the assembly segment remains one of the most under-developed areas in the State.

Even though the DSO, Thoubal had provided details as was proposed on the distribution of PDS items from April 2007 till August this year, another petition under RTI has been filed challenging all concerned on whether PDS items have been provided in the 53 months period as well as who was responsible for the appointment of PDS agents in the constituency, chandrakishore confided.

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