• PIL alleges lapse of procedural matter in Planning & Finance Departments
• Court restrains Nagaland govt from utilizing said funds, lists matter for May 14
DIMAPUR, APRIL 29 (MExN): A petition has been submitted in the Kohima bench of the Gauhati High Court alleging that the current PDA government has “attempted to divert Funds provided under Special Road Development Program (SRDP 2017-18) amounting to Rs. 15 Crores, which was secured by the previous NPF led DAN Government under the Chief Ministership of TR Zeliang.”
A press note from the two petitioners, Jeange KN Konyak and Y Hetokhu Awomi informed that the petition was brought to the notice of the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, and the matter has been listed for hearing on May 14.
The petitioners informed that under the NPF regime, SRDP Fund 2017-18 was released to the Work Agency after necessary approval of the Government, “although it could not be formally released to the respective Divisions due to election code of conduct announced by the ECI.”
“Now, after the present PDA Government came, 15 Projects were replaced and only 2 out of 17 Projects were retained. The said amount which was supposed to be released to various Divisions was parked with the Chief Engineer’s Office, PWD(R&B) awaiting completion of election process,” they claimed.
They further said it was no surprise that the present Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio “after spotting the amount lying with CE (R&B) hastily directed the Department to move for re-appropriation.” The petitioners further alleged that “within a week’s time, the sanctioned and released fund was diverted to his own village and few other villages in Dimapur District to suit his interest while another 5 Crores was earmarked for supply of bitumen in the name of his son in-law.” The said amount was re-deposited to Treasuries & Accounts and drawn against those diverted projects, the petitioners added.
This “lapse of procedural matter both in Planning and Finance Department,” the petitioners stated, “goes to show the stark reality of PDA Government and its promise of bringing ‘Change’ to Nagaland.”
As per documents made available to the media by the petitioners, the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court had issued an interim order listing the matter to be heard on April 25. Till then the respondents i.e. the Government of Nagaland was restrained from utilizing the fund sanctions for the new project.
In the April 25 hearing, the court heard both sides and allowed the Senior Additional Advocate General, Nagaland two weeks time to file a counter affidavit, as well as produce records. It meanwhile stated that the interim order passed earlier shall continue until further orders, while listing the matter to be heard again on May 14.
The petitioners meanwhile stated that had there been no court intervention, the fund in question would have been “liquidated by this time.” “Such similar changes are in the offing and PDA Government is in a hurry to empty the State exchequer because they know, their days are numbered,” the press statement claimed.
