Kohima, March 12 (MExN): In a long list of allegations against the Government of Nagaland, another has been added. This involves the Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA), created by the State Government in June 2015.
The Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP) said it has discovered “multiple instances” of “corrupt practices” in the Department, prompting it to give a 15-days ultimatum to the “Head of the State Government to deliver justice.”
The DMA is supposed to look after such things as framing of municipal & town council rules, financial reforms of the municipalities, transfer of powers and functions to the urban local bodies, finance commission/state grants to urban local bodies, master plan of municipal and town councils, purchase of machineries for the municipalities, etc.
A press release from AKMWP President Neibulie Kiewhuo, General Secretary Thejao Sekhose and Joint Secretary & Legal Advisor, Hukato Chishi, alleged today that the grant-in-aid of Rs. One Crore meant for urban local bodies of Nagaland State have “vanished without a single rupee trickling down to the intended urban local bodies.”
The ultimatum has demanded that this money be enquired into and recovered “from those responsible,” and be paid to all the urban local bodies “as intended.”
The AKMWP also alleged that another amount of more than Rs. One Crore was released “without administrative approval.” And then, “Even after the lapse of over 10 months’ time, no material was supplied nor was the amount returned. Show cause notice was reportedly issued and disciplinary proceedings initiated.”
The ultimatum has called for the said supply order (for supply of waste bin materials) to be cancelled, accountability fixed and the money refunded.
According to the AKMWP, “some of the misdeeds of the errant officer and prima facie evidence that obliges the Government to initiate action was available with the Government for over a period of 6 months.” Moreover, the Parliamentary Secretary concerned, R. Tohanba, was also informed of the anomalies, with the Association calling for “immediate suspension” of the “errant officer” and that “any enquiries or proceedings that may be initiated against him for corrupt practices and insubordination would be a farce as he remains in the best position to influence the outcome and wrongfully defeat the ends of justice.”
Actions moving slow, the AKMWP has been prompted to wonder if “a godfather or the powers that may be, is turning a blind eye and is sheltering the Officer, to continue the misdeeds for hidden interests. Should such a situation exist, the Association shall not hesitate to expose and unmask the person.”
Warning that the culture of “feudal lords” will not be allowed in Nagaland State, the AKMWP, in its 15-days ultimatum to the Chief Minister of Nagaland (who inaugurated the DMA in June 2015), asked him to suspend the Addl. Director and HoD of the Department of Municipal Affairs during the “period of proceedings” against him.
The AKMWP, while reaffirming its support for the “well considered fight against public enemies in the guise of public servants,” stated that it will employ “more severe, democratic and lawful forms of protest,” in case in inaction.
It also implored the Nagaland State Government not to leave the “wound festering due to inaction but to have it treated promptly, lest the wound aggravates further and necessitates amputation.”
