IT News
Imphal, Jan 13:
Minister of the Public Works Department, Government of Manipur Thongam Biswajit today bullshits the allegation by Congress MLA K. Meghachandra about misappropriation of Rs. 800 crore in the Public Works Department during 2021-2022.
“There is no allocation of Rs. 800 crore for the financial year 2021-2022, it seems that the Congress MLA Meghachandra seems to lack the knowledge of the Budget estimate which had been handed over to him during state assembly session”, Biswajit said adding that he needs to clarify the unfounded and baseless allegations as the MLA may mislead the people.
Talking to a group of media persons at his official quarter at Sanjenthong, Imphal, the PWD Minister Th. Biswajit said that the Congress MLA K. Meghachandra seems to be ignorant of the PWD Budget Estimate. He said that the total budget estimate for 2021-22 is Rs. 754.0036 crore under 6 (six) different heads (MH: 2059, MH: 2216, MH:3054, MH: 4059, MH: 4216 and MH 5054. But due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the budget estimate was restricted by 40% for the minor works and 60% for the major works. Because of this the available budget with the PWD is Rs. 631.81 crore and the upto date expenditure is Rs. 363.39 crore.
Among these we could take up normal work for the improvement of specific strategic roads/bridges in hill and valley area is Rs. 150 crore. Our of the Rs. 555.7158 crore budget under the MH:5054 – R&B, Rs. 374.7158 crore is Tentative Budget and the Expenditure on these tentative budget will be incurred only after authorization by Finance Department upon the credit of the fund in the State Government Account. Tentative budget is mandatory as there is a need for state matching share for the fund sanction from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for taking up External Added Project (EAP). We can utilize Rs. 150 crore from the state fund. However, due to fund restriction of 60% due to Covid-19, we could utilize only Rs. 90 crore.
The restriction of funds by the Finance department is done as per rules of the government and not as per the desire of the PWD.
The PWD Minister Biswajit further appealed to Congress MLAs to stop spreading false propaganda to the people with an agenda to mislead the party.
“The BJP has been working whole heartedly for the welfare of the people and state as the BJP doesn’t believe in the working style of the Congress Party”, Minister Biswajit said. He also appealed the Congress MLA to do politics based on facts and figures and not simply by spreading false and unfounded allegations.
He also said that the allegation leveled against the PWD by Congress MLA was already discussed in the state assembly session and the expenditure and funds for non-plan head had already been provided to all the members of the state assembly officially.
“I wonder why the Congress MLA is spreading the unfounded allegation when he already has the related documents”, the Minister said mocking the Congress MLA saying that MLA K . Meghachandra seems to have lack of knowledge of the budget estimate of the PWD.
