Imphal, Jul 28: Fisheries Minister has deleted the names of the beneficiaries of the Fishermen's Welfare Housing Scheme who have been found listed not in confirmation to the laid down criteria and guidelines during an inspection tour yesterday.

The scheme is being implemented with funding pattern of 50 percent each to be met by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and the Government of Manipur for the welfare of the fishing communities of Manipur specially those settling around the Loktak Lake.

Out of the 39 beneficiaries selected from Thanga Karang area, the Minister found out seven cases in which the beneficiaries are either not living Below Poverty Line or the houses not built or trying to construct the house in place of the old ones.

Subsequently, the names of such beneficiaries were cancelled from the list.

In his last inspection tour to Khordak, the Minister had made it clear that the beneficiaries who do not adhere to the guidelines would be blacklisted and cancelled from the list of the scheme beneficiaries.

During the course of the inspection at Karang yesterday, the Minister also came across some cases in which houses have been constructed not in confirmation to the laid down guidelines like building them quite close to each other and houses smaller then the prescribed sizes and measurement.

The DRDA Bishnupur is the implementing agency of the scheme and allotted the work to one S Nando Singh of the Khurai Nandeibam Leikai based Society for Progressive Development.

Construction for 40 houses at Khordak and 39 at Karang are under progress.

As part of his inspection tour, the Minister also visited the Jetty being constructed at Thanga Ithing and Takmu and expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of the work executed.

Prior to the commencement of the inspection tour, the Minister and his entourage also paid door to door visit at Ithai Wapokpi and Kumbi Awang Khunou to identify the beneficiaries of the scheme for the third phase.

Director of Fisheries Department Th Sharatkumar Singh and officials of DRDA Bishnupur district accompanied the Fisheries Minister during his inspection tour.

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