State Govt under Centre's vigil ?
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 11 2014: A strong suspicion has been raised that the BJP Government at Delhi has started monitoring several projects executed/taken up/being taken up by the State Government.

Well placed sources informed that the Central Government started keeping a vigil over projects being implemented in Manipur as they were doubtful about the way Government of Manipur implemented projects and utilized funds sanctioned during the UPA regime.

BJP is keeping a sharp vigil over the activities of Manipur Development Society (MDS), Education Department, Public Works Department and some other key departments, said sources.

BJP feels that funds sanctioned for different construction projects to MDS were not utilized according to guidelines.

The BJP-led Government is doubtful about the financial discipline of the State Government and its different departments, said sources.

Notably, there are many construction projects taken up by MDS at the cost of several crores of rupees which have been abandoned incomplete or mid-way.

According to an order issued by the State Government, for any project whose estimated cost is greater than Rs one crore, work agency should be selected through e-tender.

But there is strong suspicion that MDS does not adhere to the Government's order while executing different construction works.

With the Central Government suspicious that construction works were allotted without necessary DPRs and estimated costs, there is strong possibility about assigning a Central investigating agency to investigate the activities of MDS, informed the sources.

The Central Government has also started examination of the construction works executed by Education Department under Central sponsored schemes.

The Government of India has been examining whether the construction works were executed according to rules and what is their status today.

The BJP Government has also focused its attention on the Inter State Bus Terminus and the City Convention Centre which were executed as deposit works by PWD under the sponsorship of the North Eastern Council.

The Central Government has started questioning the inability of the State authority to complete the two projects fully.

BJP's prying eyes are also set on the road expansion project from Keishampat to Malom.

The Central Government has been questioning under what arrangements a contractor started building the road soon after the highway section was expanded.

Tiddim Road being a National Highway, it remains a big question whether the State Government sought fund from the Centre and if not, from which head the State Government would pay the contractor for building the highway section.

According to general norms, e-tender for construction of the highway should be done after the necessary fund has been sanctioned by the Ministry concerned.

The Central Government has been examining how the highway section is being constructed when the Ministry has not sanctioned any money for the particular work.

The NDA Government's quest for a new Governor of Manipur is being seen by many quarters as the first step of the new Government to investigate into the suspected financial indiscipline of the State Government and also to monitor lapses of the Congress Government, the sources added.

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