Imphal, Jun 20: Even as the Japanese Bank for International Co-operation is set to send a team of its representatives for its "Fact Finding Mission" to develop Loktak Lake, matter has come to light that the Chairman of LDA MLA N Loken had personally issued the appointment order of the Project Director of LDA, violating the existing norms and regulations.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express a well placed source said that the appointment was issued on June 17, a day after the Election Commission of India heard the case relating to the Office of Profit issue of six MLAs including N Loken at New Delhi on June 16.The appointed Project Director is a Superintending Engineer.

The appointment of the Project Director is supposed to be effected by the State Government with the passing of the Manipur Government Servants Personnel Liability Act 2006, said the source and added that the appointment order issued by the LDA Chairman himself violates the laid down norms and procedures.

The appointment order issued in the name of N Loken specifically mentions that the order was issued with the permission of the Chief Minister.

The officer appointed to the post of Project Director is the SE of LDA Ch Gojendro who was earlier the Project Director-in-charge.

The post which is on a temporary regular basis is in the pay scale of Rs 15,100-400,18,300 plus other allowances.

As per clause 1 of the LDA's "The Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act, 2006" Officer and Employees of the Authority, the Project Director of the LDA can only be appointed by the State Government.

The appointment of the Project Director of the LDA also did not receive the consent of the Cabinet, said the source and added that the appointment does not have the concurrence of the Finance Department either.

According to the rules of the Administrative Department, all appointments are to be made in the name of the Governor and not in the name of any elected representatives.

The source added that since the LDA Chairman has personally issued an appointment order under his signature he is liable to be pulled up under the Manipur Government Servant Personnel Liability Act.

Amid the developments within the LDA, a team of the Fact Finding Mission of the Japanese Government which is set up to study and develop the Loktak Lake is set to arrive here anytime between June 24 and 28, informed the source.

The team will be accompanied by an economist of the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation, S Nambo to hold an in depth study of the conditions of the lake before the development process is actually taken up.

During his stay at Imphal, S Nambo will interact with officials of the LDA and hold minute discussions on the steps to be taken for conservation of Loktak lake.

To save and arrest the deteriorating conditions of Loktak, earlier the Indian Canada Environment Facility had taken up certain steps.

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