Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 04:
Pertaining to Rs 16 lakhs sanctioned by the Union Government to construct 40 houses for poor fishermen of Ishok village under Nambol Assembly segment, the Chingphu Sheireng Sheidam Lup has conveyed strong apprehension of the possibility of fund embezzlement.
A sum of Rs 40,000 was sanctioned to each 40 fishermen of Ishok village recommended by the State Fishery Dept to the Union Govt for the National Welfare Fund For Fishermen Housing Scheme 2005-06.As the Fishery Department does not have engineers of its own, the sanctioned amount was deposited at DRDA Bishnupur along with design map of the houses to be constructed.
Even as one People's Resource Development Association located at Ishok was selected as the implementing agency for the housing scheme, DRDA has not constructed a single house compatible to the design map till date at Ishok, alleged the statement issued by Chingphu Sheireng Sheidam Lup.
The selected agency has replaced only house roofs with tins in some houses while at others, it constructed out-houses by making the owners to bear the expenses for the pillars.
Not only that, funds sanctioned under the scheme were also extended to individuals not included in the beneficiary list.
As such, there is strong possibility of fund embezzlement by the implementing agencies, observed the Lup.
It also appealed to the Fishery Department to conduct a spot inquiry and to book under law those found guilty.