The long wait to epiphany
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: May 10, 2013 -

After a gap of nine months, it is good to see the Estimates Committee of the State Assembly has started inspection tour to take stock of the developmental works being taking up and the functioning of the Government departments.

Prior to the latest two tours on May 3 and May 8 to inspect the work on the Integrated Tourist Circuit at Lairenpat-Puruksoubi and the condition of the godown of GAD located at Ist Manipur Rifles campus respectively, the last time that we heard of the existence of such a House Committee like the Estimates Committee headed by MLA Dr Ng Bijoy as Chairman was when its members went to inspect the condition of the roads and bridges under Saikul Assembly Constituency and the developmental programmes being taken up in the Assembly Constituency Sagolband and Langthabal on August 10 and August 26, 2012 respectively.

One common reaction of the members in all these inspection tours was 'total dissatisfaction' over the works being taken up or the state of affairs prevailing, with not much of improvement or any possible change.

If the inspection team had come across a bridge under construction over Ethai river at Molkon village with fund from the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) already withdrawn even though the Department concerned had not issued any related work order during their tour to Saikul A/C; the ghost of slow progress of the construction work on the Solid Waste Management Plant at Lamdeng and the drainage system at Kwakeithel and Wahengbam Leikai area under JnNURM haunted them during their tour to different parts of Sagolband and Langthabal Assembly Constituencies .

If these were not enough to take their wits away, the Estimates Committee members were horrified during their inspection of the developmental work on the Integrated Tourist Circuit of Lairenpat and Puruksoubi on May 3.

Apart from tardy progress of the project, which is already behind its schedule target of completion and commissioning, emergence of cracks on the constructed gates and the flooring, thus, indicating use of substandard construction materials, infuriated the inspection team so much so that order had to be ran down on the contractors and engineers concerned to put the ongoing construction (or destruction) work to a complete halt at once.

The mother of all surprises, however, was in store for them when they went to inspect the godown of General Administrative Department (GAD) at the campus of Ist Manipur Rifles here yesterday (May 8).

Being one of the most important regulatory departments of the State Government, GAD normally has been assigned with the responsibility of keeping all the various decorative items that were procured from time to time for use during the visits of VVIPs in the State.

But the inspecting members of Estimates Committee were shocked to find the godown empty and the receipts or register of the goods supposedly purchased in the past not maintained.

They also came face to face with the harsh reality on the functioning of the Department, which has issued any tender notification for supply of the required goods for the last 11 years and instead using the required goods from other private agencies on rental basis. Here, we have just one question to ask.

What the earlier Estimates Committees have been doing all these years?

It is known to all that the Estimates Committee is one of the three important House-appointed financial committees, whose main function is to examine whether the money is well laid out within the limits of the policy and then to suggest alternative policies in order to bring about financial efficiency in the administration.

So, if the earlier Estimates Committees have been doing their job, then why would it takes 11 years to realize that all is not well in GAD.