Northeast

CM Biren asks Vigilance to investigate Rs 1.83 cr scandal

The former chairperson of Wangoi Municipal Council, Imphal West, submitted a representation to the chief minister for taking up necessary action against financial irregularities while releasing funds.

ByBabie Shirin

Updated 11 Jul 2022, 2:22 pm

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh (Photo: IFP)
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh (Photo: IFP)

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Manipur has taken up the case of misappropriation of Rs 1,83,37,984 for various schemes of state’s grant-in-aid and centrally sponsored schemes sanctioned funds released under Wangoi Municipal Council, Imphal West.

The case has been taken up under Chief Minister N Biren’s advice that one former chairperson of Wangoi Municipal Council, Imphal West, submitted a representation to the chief minister for taking up necessary action.

Former chairperson Longjam Babita had reported financial irregularities while releasing funds within the wards of Wangoi Municipal Council and that Wangoi Thounaojam Leikai of the council have not been paid hiring charge of ward development office for ten months and second instalment of general basic grant under 14th Finance Commission Award 2017-18.

The former chairperson also urged for completing enquiry pending with SP of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department from 2018.

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Longjam Babita had also alleged Executive Officer Thongam Sanahal of Wangoi Municipal Council, over the issue of financial irregularities, non-transparency, abuse of power, disobedient and corrupt practice.

Following the representation, the chief minister instructed the Vigilance and Anti-corruption department for conducting an enquiry.

The department on July 5 sent a letter to the Executive Officer of Wangoi Muncipal Council for providing documents and information related to various schemes, projects with detailed project reports and to be furnished within July 12.

Meanwhile, Longjam Babita, when submitting representation, enclosed details of scheme/grant-in-aid that have not been utilised by Wangoi Municipal Council.

They include construction of segregation shed at Ngakhong Maril under 3rd State Finance Commission 2019-2020 work has not been implemented but the allotted amount for the work is Rs. 9,10,802/- (25% Council Level) Rs. 27,32,382/- (75% Ward Level) in total Rs. 36,43,184; purchase of TATA SK 610 Tipper and construction of segregation shed cum transfer station for door-to-door collection of waste near Wangoi Municipal Council Office under 15th Finance Commission 2020-2021(Untied) TATA SK 610 Tipper Missing from the date of purchase and work not implemented till today but allotted Rs. 31,36,950.

It further included the non-implementation of work till today for construction of compound fencing along the southern and western side of segregation shed, Ngakhong Maril under 14th Finance Commission GBG (2nd Instalment), 2017-2018 but allotted Rs. 4,71,886; non-implementation of work till date for the construction of Compound Fencing (Phase-II) Western and Southern side of Segregation Shed, Ngakhong Maril under 14th Finance Commission (1st Installment) 2018-2019 but allotted Rs. 5,45,737; construction of composite pit and flooring at segregation shed at Ngakhong Maril under 14th Finance Commission (1st & 2nd Installment) 2019-2020 work not implemented but allotted Rs. 15,29,724; inability to trace the work programmes of 14th Finance Commission (2nd Installment) 2018-2019 and 15th Finance Commission 2020-2021 but allotted Rs. 21,82,918 and Rs. 31,36,950 respectively.

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The details also included the wages for 10 (ten) Sanitary/SWM Workers for the year, 2021-2022, 3 Skilled Labours @ Rs. 8,190; Unskilled Labours @ Rs. 6,750; Purchase of 4(four) E-Rickshaw @Rs. 2,69,998 for door-to-door collection waste; Purchase & Installation of 120 Twin Dustbin with Iron Stand (@ Rs. 9,600/-) in and around Wangoi Market Areas under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016; Sanitisation Equipment & Activities related to COVID-19(including purchase of masks, gloves, gum boots, sprayer, hand sanitizer, spade, shovel, oil etc.) under 3rd State Finance Commission 2020-2021 were allotted amounts of 32,77,995.

While, only 2(two) sweepers sweep the market in the morning, no E-Rickshaw is available, not Installed, couldn’t see a Single Twin Dustbin and during COVID-19 Pandemic there’s no sign of activities carried out; for 14th FCA, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 15th FCA, 2020-21(United) the government has sanctioned Rs. 4,12,640 for 5(five) sanctioned orders with different dates not utilised.

With above works details, the former chairperson stated that funds/grant-in-aid total Rs. 1,83,37,984/- is few among various Schemes released so far in respect of Wangoi Municipal Council and therefore, a proper checking for whole Administrative Sanction/Release Orders is highly needed for Scrutiny. Besides these, there are also cases of Funds Remitted Back/Transferred Back to State Nodal Agency because of withheld of Funds Unreasonably for a long time, and unutilized the Funds accordingly impede with the Compliance of Finance Department norms, Longjam Babita said.

She also submitted a detail about centrally sponsored schemes that Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Housing-For-All)- Urban / PMAY-U fund of Rs 44, 61, 927 was remitted back to the state nodal agency. Amount of Rs 25, 140 remitted back to the state nodal agency for Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission / DAY-NULM. Under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban / SBM(U) amount of Rs 1,93,848 was also remitted back to the state nodal agency.

Stating details of different works on the representation, Longjam Babita stated the absence of clarity in respect of financial management and at the Conduct of Business of the Council.

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Tags:

corruptionwangoiChief Minister N Birenvigilance

Babie Shirin

Babie Shirin

IFP Reporter, IMPHAL, Manipur

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