Dimapur, September 21 (MExN): The Nagaland State Finance Department today issued a clarification from the Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) regarding alleged “double drawal” of funds for development works.
A press note from the department stated that “it is not deemed necessary for Finance Department to capture all details of the schemes in the drawal authorities as long as it is understood from which source the fund is coming from and for what purpose it is being released for.”
All such information is contained in the files of the departments which are returned to them after issue of drawal authorities, it said. It further informed that the process of issue of drawal authorities is for the sole purpose of placing the funds at the disposal of the concerned department for implementation of the programme.
“In case of any doubt, details should be ascertained from the department concerned who maintain all records. Requisite details of the works are always furnished by the department at the time of submitting bills to the Treasuries/AG’s office for actual payments,” the department informed.
It meanwhile stood by the department’s earlier clarification that releases of the funds were based on sanctions from the concerned Ministry, copies of which are available in the department. Interested parties can obtain the same, if so required, through laid down procedures of the government, it added.
The Finance Department, it stated, “cannot be held at fault for not providing non-existent facts for the satisfaction of those who have misconceptions, nor revise or customize established procedures for the satisfaction of NGOs.”
It added that these clarifications are being made again so as to “dispel all doubts to the extent possible and in deference to the concerns raised.” It expressed hope that that the issue of double drawal will be put at rest, and informed that henceforth, the department would not be issuing further clarifications in this matter in the public domain.
