Demanding swift action against those involved in road construction from Rengpang to Mongjaron Khullen of Nungba block under Noney district for alleged misuse of funds, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Monday alleged that funds amounting to around Rs 1,700 crore meant for road construction has been misused.
Addressing the press at Congress Bhawan on Monday, MPCC president Keisham Meghachandra Singh said that funds to the tune of Rs 1,700 crore has been misappropriated which was released for road construction in four hill districts under PMGSY phase I and II.
The districts are Chandel, Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Ukhrul, the Congress leader said and demanded the state government for stringent action against those involved.
ALSO READ: PMGSY Fund Misappropriation: MLA Joykisan writes to PAC
This exposure from the Manipur Congress comes less than a month after it alleged that PMGSY funds amounting to over Rs 300 crore sanctioned for construction of roads in Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Chandel districts have been misappropriated.
MPCC had exposed a scam on road construction in hill areas to the tune of Rs 300 crore some days back and the party came to notice another similar situation worth around Rs 1,700 crore, Megachandra said.
The central government has sanctioned a total of Rs 5,000 crore under PMGSY phase I and II and crores of this fund might have been misused if proper investigation is carried out, he added.
He also said that the central government is already prepared for PMGSY phase III but that the amount would not be received until and unless utilization certification is being sent. Viewing the present scam on PMGSY occurring in the state, receiving phase III PMGSY money has become a far-fetched dream, the Congress leader said.
The money sanctioned for road connectivity is public property, he said, adding that through the tax collected from the public, the amount is released for the welfare of society. Therefore, misappropriation of sanctioned money should be punished without fail, he added.
ALSO READ: No funds misappropriation in road construction under PMGSY: Minister Y Khemchand
The MPCC also demanded immediate action against those who were involved in road construction from Rengpang to Mongjaron Khullen of Nungba block under Noney district by transferring the case to the enforcement directorate.
Minister of RD and PR, Khemchand Singh visited the site and was convinced that Rs 70 crore sanctioned for construction of Rengpang to Mongjaron Khullen under Nungba Block of Noney district has been “looted”, Meghachandra said. It is fortunate, in a way, that the minister found out such, he added.
Meghachandra informed that the said amount was released five years back during 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 under phase I and II of PMGSY and that exposing it after 5 years was rather a little too late. So, there is no point in giving chance to those involved in construction work starting from contractor to officials, he said and demanded immediate action against whosoever is involved by handing over the case to central agencies like Enforcement Directorate.
ALSO READ: Manipur Congress demands probe into Rs 300-crore road construction scam
