DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 9 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) today alleged that the Finance Department (Budget & Monitoring Cell), on July 13, 2017, released Rs 8.98 crore to the Department of Planning & Co-ordination for payment of financial assistance to 41 “unnamed beneficiaries” under capacity building 2017-18.
“The amounts released against many of the projects indicated in the Drawal Authority give rise to highly doubtful release since many of it has vague descriptions without detailed locations of the projects,” stated a press note from the NPRAAF.
For example, it noted that Rs 18 lakh was released to an unnamed NGO for purchase of a mini bus; Rs 70 lakh was released for tree plantation in Nagaland; Rs 41 lakh was released for setting up of flower nursery in 5 places without mentioning the locations; Rs 80 lakh was released for setting up of eight ‘dairy development’ projects without naming locations; Rs 20 lakh was released for seminar on global climate change without mentioning to which NGO/individual it was released; Rs 10 lakh each was released for construction of hostels at Dimapur, Peren, Kohima and Mokokchung; and Rs 20 lakh was released for construction of an office in Dimapur without mentioning what office, location etc.
“With such vague descriptions in the DA,” the NPRAAF expressed doubt at the genuineness of many of the projects against which the money was released. As such, the forum urged the responsible department to clarify on the issue by providing proper details of the projects, locations and the list of beneficiaries.
