The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has demanded a white paper for cancellation of a total 1,255 work programme under two different major heads after administrative approval was accorded for the financial year 2020-21.
MPCC president Keishem Meghachandra told media at its state office on Tuesday located at BT Road that before the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election, during the past BJP-led government, a total of 1,225 work programmes under two different major heads were given administrative approval from PWD department during the financial year of 2021-21.
He said that among the two major head work programmes, a sum of Rs 562,44.76 lakh was accorded for 660 plan work and a sum of Rs 106,23.74 lakh for 586 non-plan work. He said that during the past budget session of the previous government a total of Rs 668,68,50 lakh budget for the work programme had already been passed on the assembly floor.
Meghachandra said in a government order issued on May 4 and signed by commissioner (works), T Ranjit Singh mentioned that the 1,255 work programmes have been cancelled as expenditure sanction from the finance department is yet to be issued. He said the cancellation of the work programme is inappropriate as all the contractors had already submitted a bank demand draft for a total sum of Rs 40,12,11,000 for the respective contract works to the department.
Meghachandra said out of the total works, 444 work programmes are to be carried out at hill districts whereas 811 work programmes were to be carried out in valley districts.
Before the recent election the BJP government had been telling the people that various developmental work programmes have been started but after the election the work programmes have been cancelled. He said the 1,255 works were approved in order to get political mileage and there is suspicion of conspiracy between the past BJP-led government and works department, he said.
He further said cancellation of work programmes that were passed on the assembly floor is a disrespect to the House.
The MPCC president questioned whether cancellation of works is a sign of development or is this the sign of BJP’s “Achhe Din”.
He questioned if the works programme is cancelled then where is money sanctioned in order to bring development for the state? A high-level enquiry needs to be instituted by the government against the concerned department and minister, the MPCC president said.
He further said there is a suspicion of organised loot and due to the reason MPCC demanded a white paper for cancellation of 1,255 work programmes.
The MPCC president further said due to the failure on maintenance work of concerned officials and the present government, commuters are facing water logs frequently in most of the streets of Imphal city even in front of Raj Bhavan and MLA quarters road near Sanjenthong.
MPCC is not criticising the developmental works of the BJP-led government but to highlight the actual fact of the development of the present government, Meghachandra added.
