Imphal, February 17: The Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High Court today asked the Commissioner/Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj to appear before the Court on February 22 to ascertain the issue of implementing a Centrally sponsored scheme at Senapati district.

Justice HN Sharma and MBK Singh passed the order following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the office bearers of Wasteland Development Association, Purul.

The case dossiers said the Union Ministry of Rural Development had sanctioned the Integrated Wasteland Development Scheme and subsequently the State recommended four areas of Senapati district, namely Saitu, Saikul, Purul and Paomata, for implementing the same.

According to the guidance, the scheme is to be implemented by the DRDA or Zilla Parishad.

Since there is no Zilla Parishad institution in the hills, the scheme ought to be implemented by the DRDA of which DC is the chairman.

But interesting, the State authorities recommended the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department as the implementing agency for the scheme at Purul Block and DRDA for the remaining three blocks.

Not happy with the recommendation, the PIL was filed contending that the Horticulture and Soil Conservation unit would not be able to implement the scheme as the unit has failed to implement other large scale schemes in the district earlier.

Advocate Naorem Umakanta appeared on behalf of the petitioners.

In another case, Justice HN Sharma of the same court today dismissed a writ petition filed by MSCP challenging an earlier order passed by the Civil Judge, Junior Division, Imphal that ruled that BJP State unit is the legal owner of the plot of land at Nityaipat Chuthek.

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