Imphal, March 01: Taking serious note of the problems arising out of the nonsubmission of utilisation certificates for the various sanctioned projects under the National Medicinal Plants Board, New Delhi, a five member official team would start spot verification of the sites where the said projects are being taken up with effect from tomorrow.

According to a reliable source, National Medical Plants Board which is under the Union Ministry of Health, had sanctioned a huge amount of money during 2003-04 and 2004-05 for taking up projects on planting medicinal plants in Manipur.

But apart from three organisations/groups none of other project beneficiaries have submitted the utilisation certificates till date.

Among the beneficiaries there are ex-Ministers and politicians and the total amount sanctioned for nine promotion projects and 108 contractual farming projects is to the tune of Rs 6.15 crores, the source disclosed.

Following the failure of submitting the required utilisation certificates in time, the Union Ministry of Health is likely to put a halt on releasing any more grant for 2005-06 and the same has been communicated to the State Government, the source informed.

It may be noted here that acting on the instruction of the Union Ministry, a State Medical Plants Board had also been set up in Manipur to monitor the progress of the sanctioned projects.

The decision to conduct the spot verification of the project sites was taken during a meeting of the State Board held on Feb 21 with Board chairman and Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare LP Gonmei, IAS in the chair.

The meeting also constituted a fivemember team comprising of Government officials and representatives of NGOs for conducting the spot verification with effect from tomorrow.

The other terms of reference for inspection include submission of utilisation certificates of the projects sanctioned in phased manner, finding out source of planting materials, survival percentage, quantity produced and amount of bank loan availed.

Over and above this five-member team, one representative each from Central Agricultural University and Indian Council of Agricultural Research would also be roped in to expand the scope of the verification.

The report of verification would be submitted within March 14 to member secretary of State Medicinal Plants Board.

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