Smell of a Scam
Fund misuse cloud on Power Deptt:
Imphal, Jan 2: Serious doubts have been raised over whether the Power Department had misused a sum of Rs 22 crore and the State Government has already started an inquiry to get to the bottom of the matter.
During the course of an investigation conducted by The Sangai Express it came to light there is a strong possibility that a sum of Rs 22 crore may have been diverted for other purposes which are not included in the State Plan and out of the works approved under the Budget.
It is learnt that the Rs 22 crore was meant for transmission work of 132, 32, 33, 220KV sub-stations as well as for constructing some sub-stations.
A rat was smelt after it came to light that the Power Department had submitted a report to the Finance Department seeking the approval of the utilisation of the Rs 22 crore in November last year.
The approval was however turned down by the Finance Department and the Power Department again submitted another report with minor modifications.
The second report was again rejected.
Then in December last year, the Power Department submitted another report seeking the required approval.
The report did not reach the office of the Principal Secretary of Finance as well as the Principal Secretary of Planning.
The approval was given at the level of the Under Secretary.
On smelling something fishy, Chief Secretary has reportedly apprised the Chief Minister and the Power Minister on the matter and notices have also been given to the Principal Secretary (Power), Principal Secretary (Planning), Director (Planning).
The Chief Engineer of the Power Department was also instructed to gather the needed reports from all the divisions.
The reports were meant to be tabled during a meeting convened by the Chief Secretary and attended among others by the Principal Secretary-in-charge of Finance P Saratchandra on Wednesday.
However the Chief Engineer could not table the reports as many divisions are yet to furnish the required information.
The matter is currently under inquiry and a probe has started from December 31, it is learnt.
In the meantime, the Chief Secretary has also asked all the Government Departments to conduct a minute study on the utilisation of funds and find out if any of the funds have been diverted to other heads and to submit the required reports if there are any such cases.
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Jan 2: Serious doubts have been raised over whether the Power Department had misused a sum of Rs 22 crore and the State Government has already started an inquiry to get to the bottom of the matter.
During the course of an investigation conducted by The Sangai Express it came to light there is a strong possibility that a sum of Rs 22 crore may have been diverted for other purposes which are not included in the State Plan and out of the works approved under the Budget.
It is learnt that the Rs 22 crore was meant for transmission work of 132, 32, 33, 220KV sub-stations as well as for constructing some sub-stations.
A rat was smelt after it came to light that the Power Department had submitted a report to the Finance Department seeking the approval of the utilisation of the Rs 22 crore in November last year.
The approval was however turned down by the Finance Department and the Power Department again submitted another report with minor modifications.
The second report was again rejected.
Then in December last year, the Power Department submitted another report seeking the required approval.
The report did not reach the office of the Principal Secretary of Finance as well as the Principal Secretary of Planning.
The approval was given at the level of the Under Secretary.
On smelling something fishy, Chief Secretary has reportedly apprised the Chief Minister and the Power Minister on the matter and notices have also been given to the Principal Secretary (Power), Principal Secretary (Planning), Director (Planning).
The Chief Engineer of the Power Department was also instructed to gather the needed reports from all the divisions.
The reports were meant to be tabled during a meeting convened by the Chief Secretary and attended among others by the Principal Secretary-in-charge of Finance P Saratchandra on Wednesday.
However the Chief Engineer could not table the reports as many divisions are yet to furnish the required information.
The matter is currently under inquiry and a probe has started from December 31, it is learnt.
In the meantime, the Chief Secretary has also asked all the Government Departments to conduct a minute study on the utilisation of funds and find out if any of the funds have been diverted to other heads and to submit the required reports if there are any such cases.
Source: The Sangai Express