Chizokho Vero
Kohima | March 21
Opposition Congress today blamed the DAN government on what it said was “nine years of scams and corruptions” and termed the present government as only a “business government.” “This government is only a business government,” said Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Tokheho Yepthomi adding that “they are ruling the state not governing the state.”
Addressing a press conference here at Hotel Japfu, he highlighted nine scams during the nine years of DAN government as; Voluntary Retirement Scheme scam (VRS) for Sugar Mills, transport subsidy scam under Industry & Commerce Department, state government sold 50,000 metric tons (MT) of coal to Punjab scam, NPSC answers script swapping scam, school education text book scam, SSA and RMSA scam under school education, bogus teachers and fictitious appointment scam under school education department, rice and wheat scam under food & civil supplies, where out of four accused in the scam three of them are related to important NPF leaders and ‘minister of school education has taken Rs. 51.00 lakhs, Rs. 11.18 lakhs and Rs. 5,94,000.’
The CLP Leader said Congress has highlighted many issues at the ongoing budget session pertaining to the public welfare but it was not properly taken into consideration and no corrective measure was taken by the government in the last four years. Under PHQ, Yepthomi said, Rs. 18 crore was fraudulently drawn on 16/6/2009 against six firms- Ordinance Factory Khamaria, Jabalpur (MP)- Rs. 4, 30, 29, 260 (Arms/ammunition), Ordinance Factory Khamaria, Jabalpur (arms/ ammunition)- Rs. 1, 48, 24, 440, Bridgegap Associates (Equipment) – Rs. 7, 81, 86, 960, Leggar Industries Ltd (Defence vehicles)- Rs. 1,50,01, 000, Tatar Motor Limited ( 22 vehicles) Rs. 2,02,09, 996 and Sanchar Telesystems Limited ( Equipment)- Rs. 87, 48, 684.
“Revealed that money had been paid for arms and ammunition but the items had not been received by the central store till 12/12/2011,” said Yepthomi. An amount of Rs. 1, 64, 88,000 is shown unutilized till date, as pert PAC report tabled on 19/03/2012 on the floor of the House, he said. He also stated that Congress was not satisfied with Public Account Committee (PAC) report on the related matter tabled in the budget session as well as High Power Committee Report.
Referring to implementation of 6th ROP in Nagaland, Yepthomi said that during 2010, the central government gave special financial grant of Rs. 712 crore for 6th ROP to be implemented from April, 2010. He said the government had released an amount of Rs. 472, 55, 74,000 to 72 departments as per Demands for Grants 2010-2011 approved by Assembly, adding that an amount of Rs. 239, 44,26,000 was not given to government employees and still retained by government. He added that out of Rs. 472, 55, 74,000 released for provisions of ROP by the state government, half of the amount was deposited by government employee GPF account.
Tokheho continued that the DAN government betrayed the state government employees on 3 matters. Firstly, he said, the rising retirement age from 57 to 60 years before 2008 general election. Secondly, after election the government imposed 35 years of service to government employees and made retirement age of 60 years, whichever is earlier. Thirdly, the government received Rs. 712 crore for implementation of 6th ROP for government employees but the whole amount was not paid to the government employees.
He recalled that when assembly question was put up to furnish detail of amount received by each government employee out of Rs. 712 crore grant for implementation of 6th ROP for government employees, the government replied that the Government of Nagaland did not receive any amount from GoI for implementation of 6th ROP. However, the department of IPR, art & culture and borders affairs had furnished having received money for 6th ROP.
Surprisingly, he said, the department of Parliamentary Affairs issued orders on March 5 2012 to all department secretaries not to furnish the information required “This is a clear case of ‘breach of privilege’ of the August House in the history of Nagaland Legislative Assembly,” he said. He said that Congress will take up the matter.
Further, Yepthomi also stated that procedural lapses have taken place in the construction of various Directorate offices building in Kohima. He cited that the work order amount on construction of vigilance office at Kohima at Rs. 206.40 lakhs was revised to Rs. 466 .43 lakhs, which was enhanced by 126%. Construction of Works & Housing office complex at Kohima where work order amount of Rs. 983.72 lakhs was revised to Rs. 3866.00 lakhs, enhanced by 293%. Construction of Industries & Commerce Directorate office building at Kohima where work order amount of Rs. 822.30 lakhs was revised to Rs. 13,07, 16,000, enhanced by 193 %.
Construction of IPR Directorate office building Kohima where work order amount of Rs. 4, 12, 25, 750 was revised to Rs. 6, 94, 45,000 and ‘purchased Wazuho marble at an exorbitant rate of Rs. 1,650 per sq.ft.’ Construction of Banquet Hall, Raj Bhavan Kohima where work order amount of Rs. 1, 61, 27, 800 revised to Rs. 1070.00 lakhs, enhanced by 564%. Construction of Cricket ground at Sovima where work order amount of Rs. 8, 29, 46, 020 was revised to Rs. 72, 59,00, 000, registering an enhancement of 775%.
Referring to the rate of new vehicle registration fee of different type of vehicles which was raised by him on the floor of the House on March 20, he maintained that there is uniform fee all over the country. He, however, expressed dismay that the government was collecting one time tax on motor vehicle at high rate.
He stated that tax on new vehicle vary from the basic of the cost and type of vehicles. He cited that the cost of vehicle ranging from Rs. 4-5 lakh is tax at Rs 4% for 15 years and the cost of vehicle ranging from Rs. 20 lakh and above at 7%. He said that because of the high rate of tax, many people have started going to Assam for registration.
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