Dimapur, June 17 (MExN): The PWD (R&B) of Dimapur today refuted allegations that the department received Rs. 450 lakhs as alleged in the media by the Congress. The opposition had alleged that the money was received by the department for May 2010 as disbursement of Contractors’ pending bills and town maintenance, but was implied to have been misused.
Executive Engineer of PWD (Roads & Bridges) K Rio issued a statement today. “…the Dimapur (R&B) Division neither received Rs. 450 lakhs (as reported in Nagaland Post) nor Rs. 4 Cr. (as reported in the Morung Express) during the month of May 2010 for disbursement of Contractors’ pending bills and town maintenance. Therefore, the allegation of the receipt of the mentioned amount is not true,” the PWD chief said.
However, the executive engineer said funds to the tune of Rs. 169 lakhs was received “against Dimapur Division during May 2010 for payment of pending bills.”
“All payments have been made accordingly as per the pending bill list during May 2010 itself and there is no instance of any percentage deduction from the Bills as far as the division is concerned. The department therefore categorically denies any allegation of the 80% deduction/adjustment from the bills. The report that payments were disbursed from the residence of the Account is also not true, since all payments were released from the office itself.”
The department has appealed to all in concern that allegations should not be made against any individual holding government office without ascertaining facts. “Any constructive criticism for the improvement of the working system of the department from any individual is however, welcomed,” the executive engineer added.
