NFRAAF asks Nagaland government to clarify
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 17 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) today alleged that the Finance Department of the Nagaland State Government issued double drawal authorities for construction of 17 hostels for scheduled tribes boys and girls at various locations in the state.
A press note from the NPRAAF stated that on July 11, 2016, the department, vide NO.BUD/8-27/2016-17/KS/911 through Drawal Authority (DA) no 10 of 2016-17 under demand no 27, released an amount of Rs 10.03 Crore for the purpose.
Surprisingly, it informed that on May 29, the department vide NO.BUD/8-27/2017-18/HY/101 through Drawal Authority (DA) no 5 of 2017-18 under demand no 27, again released the same amount (Rs 10.03 cr) for construction of the same hostels and at the same locations thus resulting in double drawals for the same project.
“Nothing has been indicated in the DA as under which scheme/programme the Government of India sanctioned the amount except merely mentioning the expenditure is to be classified under CSS against the sanctioned budget of the current financial year,” the NPRAAF said.
It meanwhile informed that the various locations of the hostels are as follows: hostel cum auditorium at Pfutsero, Phek – Rs 107.00 lakh; hostel at Zuketsa EAC hq attached to GHS Phek – Rs 75.00 lakh; hostel at Mokokchung – Rs 37.50 lakh; hostel at Thongsu village attached to GHS Tseminyu – Rs 68.00 lakh; hostel at Tenyiphe, Dimapur – Rs 72.00 lakh; hostel at Naga United village, Dimapur – 109.00 lakh; hostel at Wokha Town – Rs 73.00 lakh; hostel at Arabil, Dimapur – Rs 36.00 lakh; hostel at Noklak, Tuensang – Rs 33.00 lakh; hostel at Jalukie, Peren district – Rs 68.00 lakh; hostel at TM School, Kohima – Rs 37.50 lakh; hostel at Longleng – Rs 35.50 lakh; hostel at Kiphire – Rs 35.50 lakh; hostel at Gatashi, Zunheboto – Rs 35.50 lakh; hostel at Meluri – Rs 36.00 lakh; hostel at Selouphe, Dimapur – Rs 73.00 lakh; and hostel at Chen town, Mon – Rs 71.00 lakh.
The total amount comes to Rs 10.03 Crore.
It however stated that since the same amount with same break-up fund was drawn twice on different occasions under different DA and vide numbers, the total amount comes to Rs 20.5 Crore for the same project.
‘Non existence of
many hostels’
“Such double drawals are nothing but provides absolutely doubtful conclusion about the non-transparent functioning of the government. This doubt is further attested with non-existence of many hostels indicated in the details of hostels and break up of funds,” the NPRAAF said.
It pointed out that “Arabil, Dimapur is a place which NPRAAF has never heard of except Eralibill, Khushiabill etc in Dimapur.” “Such concocted nomenclatures only give rise to strong suspicion about corrupt activities in the State government,” it added.
The NPRAAF further pointed to the Finance Department’s clarification to ACAUT regarding double drawals for construction of a bridge over River Tizit on Mon-Tizit road stating that the drawal authority was issued for second time since the amount was not drawn for the first drawal authority.
“If similar clarification is to be issued by the Finance Department in this instant case of constructing hostels, then it leaves ample room for public to conclude that there could be many more double drawals for different projects which simply cannot be blindly believed. It shows the inefficiency of the concerned departments to carry out its duties in the service of the public,” the NPRAFF viewed.
In addition, the NPRAAF said that another amount of Rs 718.58 lakh (Rs 7.19 crore) was released on June 16, 2016 vide NO.BUD/8-27/2016-17/LA/644 through drawal authority no 06 of 2016-17 under demand no 27 – Planning Machinery for construction of four (4) new hostels for 400 ST girls. The locations for construction of the four hostels were Botsa – Rs 170.17 lakh, Chumukedima – Rs 142.41 lakh, Longsa – Rs 172.79 lakh and Noksen – Rs 233.21 lakh.
The drawal authority was issued in favour of Kohima (N) Treasury, it informed, adding that the actual existence of the hostels is yet to be ascertained. “The department did not specify as to which district Longsa falls under since there are two villages in the State with the same name in Wokha and Mokokchung district. In this case too, nothing has been indicated in the DA as under which scheme/programme the Government of India sanctioned the amount except merely mentioning that ‘the expenditure is to be classified under CSS against the sanctioned budget of the current financial year,” it added.
The NPRAAF demanded that the concerned departments clarify on these issues with complete details including names of contractors/firms, time taken for completion of hostels since the release of amount indicates that works have been completed, whether any additional fund was released etc.
It also asked the concerned department to furnish copies of the Government of India sanction for construction of hostels. The NPRAAF further questioned whether the Planning Department is qualified to take up construction works such as hostels. “Is construction the Planning Department’s subject matter beyond choking out Plans for the State? Is there no implementing department for such works/projects?” it posed.
It further called upon all concerned students’ unions, NGOs and citizens to verify the physical existence of the mentioned hostels in their respective jurisdiction and “fight for their rights.”\
NPRAAF questions CMCF beneficiary list
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 17 (MExN): In a separate press note, the NPRAAF today informed that a total amount of Rs 2.46 crore was released in March, 2017 for payment of financial assistance to various individuals/entrepreneurs under Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund (CMCF) without any list of the beneficiaries.
The drawal authority was issued in favour of Kohima (North) Treasury vide NO.BUD/8-27/2016-17/TN/125 through DA no 57 (A) of 2016-17 under demand no. 27 – Planning Machinery and vide NO.BUD/8-27/2016-17/QC/311 through DA no 72 of 2016-17 under demand no. 27 – Planning Machinery.
A press note from the NPRAAF said that when the Finance Department issues such drawal authorities, it is supposed to show the list of all those beneficiaries. However, no such lists were shown in the two DAs “which is a strong enough reason to describe it as dubious releases only to be embezzled among few people unless the Department comes out with crystal clear and unblemished proof and evidence.”
It therefore asked the concerned department to disclose the list of all those beneficiaries with complete details in public domain within a reasonable time-frame failing which the forum will approach appropriate authorities.
