Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 11:
Belittling hectic lobbying by dissident MLAs with AICC leaders in the national capital for change of leadership of the SPF Government, the chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said his Government is focused on development of Manipur.
Apparently referring to the charges of the rebel group that law and order situation under his leadership has gone from bad to worse, the Chief minister affirmed that within six month the situation would change for the better.
The chief Minister's comments was made this morning on the sideline of an inspection tour of various projects/schemes being implemented in Imphal areas.
He was accompanied by ministers of Works K Ranjit, IFC N Biren, PHE TN Haokip, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Md Allaudin Khan and PDA Chairman Dr Kh Loken.
Describing the Congress organisation as a large family, he said inspite of the dissident group's synergy only on change of leadership such parleys could hardly deter determination and concentration of the SPF Government on development.
To a query whether he could point out schemes that could be attributed as success story of the sPF Government other than the ones being implemented these days, he proclaimed that all development works initiated during his tenure would be published in the form of a booklet near the end of the year.
Commenting on the law and order front, the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio opined that such a situation is an outcome of accumulated problems.
He further affirmed that in 5/6 months there would be 'visible improvement' not only on the law and order front but stringent measures being initiated by the Government would certainly check 'leakage' of development funds.
To a specific poser what action had been initiated so far against MLAs from whose official quarters activists of banned outfits were apprehended, he explained that law do not differentiate anybody and in compliance with legal necessity enquiry is being processed after which those found guilty will have to face the consequences.
The Chief Minister further asserted that security escorts being provided to Ministers, MLAs or bureaucrats would be withdrawn if found harbouring militants while the next step of punitive action against them would depend on magnitude of the nexus.
Undeterred with allegations of financial mismanagement against the SPF Government, O Ibobi cited regular release of employees' salaries and bill clearance for those contractors who have completed their assigned tasks to drive home the point that the charges are concocted and floated by disgruntled elements.
There is no question of misuse of funds and any misconception regarding financial integrity of the Congress-led Govt could be ascertained through enquiry of the State's exchequer, he claimed.
Strongly suggesting that rather that level charges of fund misuse the matter needs to be verified and should be substantiated with concrete evidences, he also clarified that development funds are not being diverted as alleged.
Rather than diversion of funds, the Government after closely monitoring pace of scheme implementation and having confirmed the same could not be completed within the financial year (March 2008) utilises the amount for other development purposes, the Chief Minister maintained.
He further declared that in case allegations against him of being corrupt or deducts percentage could be substantiated he would not hesitate to resign from the top post.
Informing that against the Government initiative to photograph 26,000 pensioners around 5000 have failed to report, Ibobi exuded confidence that such identification of pensioners will facilitate curb excessive expenditure of about Rs 8 crore incurred annually.
Disclosing that some treasury officers were found to be involved in connection with existence of fake pensioners, he stated that investigation had been ordered so that appropriate punitive action could be initiated against the guilty officials.
The inspection tour covered work sites of the Capitol Project, High Court, the NH-39 stretch from Chingmeirong upto Koirengei, Lamlong bridge, National Sports Academy, Khuman Lampak Hockey Stadium, Swimming Pool complex, Imphal Sewerage project locations, Keishamthong bridge, Nambul River improvement programme and Singjamei bridge.
Acknowledging that delay in laying pipes for the ongoing sewerage project have been hampering road and bridge construction/repairing works, the Chief Minister instructed Minister concerned to ensure expeditious completion.
While informing that plans are also afoot to shift office of the Imphal Municipal Council to the present State Assembly complex, the CM said the IMC office and High Court complex would be converted into multi-storeyed parking zones.