DIMAPUR, JUNE 4 (MExN): Suspended NPF MLA Z. Obed who had staked claim to form an alternative government with little success till now has brought to the attention of the Governor, what he described as ‘evidence of horse trading’ and charging Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of distributing Rs 30 lakhs each to 14 MLAs including himself from the Chief Minister’s Road Fund. “This has led the 10 NPF MLAs namely Kuzholuzo Nienu, Nyiewang Konyak, K. Naiba Konyak, Nkhao Lotha, Hewoto Awomi, Yitachu, Kipili Sangtam, Hukavi, R. Khing and Kaito Aye to retract their earlier stand of withdrawing support to the leadership of Neiphiu Rio”, stated Z. Obed to the Governor in a representation submitted to Raj Bhavan on June 3, Sunday. Interestingly, Obed has signed his name as ‘Leader Elect DAN Legislature Party.’
Obed also enclosed a copy of an order brought out by Er. N. Chielie, Engineer-in-Chief (PWD) as reference for the Governor. Obed maintained that the said order issued by Er. Chielie on May 28, 2007 had listed 14 MLAs including the Chief Minister “indicating Rs 30 lakhs each without any specific name of the works nor has it been provided in the works programme”.
A copy of the order which was released to the media along with the representation made to the Governor makes mention of ‘estimates for CMRDF 07-08’. The Executive Engineer PWD (R&B), Kohima Division, to whom the estimates were submitted by the Engineer-in-Chief, was directed to submit the estimates latest by June 15 2007 to the Office of the Chief Engineer PWD (R&B) through the respective circles and zones for onward submission to the government for sanction. “Should there be any lapses you shall be held responsible”, the letter to the Executive Engineer states.
As per the copy of the order, the Nagaland Road Board meeting was held on April 18, 2007 with four senior bureaucrats also in attendance besides the Chief Minister, Minister Works & Housing, Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board and the Engineer-in-Chief (NPWD). “The members thoroughly discussed the entire issue on the basis of the past experience and thereafter gone through all the requests received from various VIPs and other public leaders and distributed the fund in the following manner on priority basis”.
As such, against serial one under the heading ‘name of work’, is mentioned “placing Rs 30 lakhs each at the disposal of the Chief Minister/Speaker/Deputy Speaker and 10 MLAs for selection of works to be taken up under their respective constituencies on priority basis”.
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