Govt. issues clarification on allegations of ‘double drawal’

Dimapur, Sep. 25 (EMN): The Planning & Co-ordination Department has on Monday responded to the allegations of double withdrawal of funds made by the department that was published in local newspapers on Sep.18, 2017.
While clarifying to the allegations made by the Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum, the Commissioner and Secretary, M. Patton stated that the construction of 17 hostels were funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the year 2015-16 for a estimated cost of Rs. 2005 lac. but was released in two instalments.
So it cannot be termed as double withdrawals as alleged, he stated.
” In this connection, it may be clarified that the construction of 17 (Seventeen) Hostels was funded under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the year 2015-16 with an estimated cost of Rs. 2005.00 lakh and during 2015-16 the Ministry has released Rs. 1002.50 lakh as 1st instalment and released another Rs. 1002.50 lakh as 2nd and final instalment during 2016-17 and as such this cannot be taken as double drawal,” he stated.
He clarified that the hostel at Eralibil was rendered as ‘Arabil’ due to a clerical error which was later again shifted to Longritong Colony, Dimapur since there are more ‘educational institutions within the vicinity’.
With regard to the Scheduled Tribe Girls Hostels at Longsa, he stated that the hostel is located at Longsa village, Mokokchung District and the construction of the hostel is complete.
The secretary and commissioner also made available the detailed list of all the 17 hostel along with the amount sanctioned along with the press note.
In another clarification, the OSD of Planning, Kevileno Angami as a clarification to the allegation that there was ‘ drawal of funds’ without the list of beneficiaries under the CM Corpus Fund made available the list of beneficiaries.
She stated that a ‘drawal authority ‘ of Rs. 2.40 cr. was issued by the finance department on the basis of the list of beneficiaries furnished by the Planning & Co-ordination Department.
“Drawal authority for Rs. 5.98 lakhs was issued for purchase of computers/ printers/ photocopiers and other logistic requirements of the Department,” she further stated.