Clarification to ACAUT’s allegation

Reacting to the statement by ACAUT, alleging blatant corruption for construction of a single bridge over river Tizit, the Finance department and PWD (R&B) department have stated that the allegations were made without ascertaining the facts. 

In a rejoinder through the DIPR, Finance department OSD (Gen & Bud), V. Kezo clarified that the first drawal authority with validity date upto 20.04.2017 had lapsed without being drawn as per the decision of the Works & Housing department. The file was subsequently re-submitted to Finance department to re-validate the earlier drawal authority. Accordingly, a fresh drawal authority was issued in May in supercession of the earlier one since it had lapsed without being drawn, Kezo said.

Further, Kezo also clarified that the word ‘non-developmental’ is being used now to classify expenditure in the State’s budget following the decision of the Central government in order to do away with the traditional classification of expenditure into ‘Plan’ and ‘Non plan.’ It reflects capital expenditure that has not been allotted to Planning department, he added. 

However, Kezo said the expenditure in question had been captured in the records as “capital expenditure”, and does not attempt to conceal anything. 

The Finance department urged ACAUT to first ascertain the correct facts before making such allegations of serious nature

In a separate press release, Chief Engineer (CE) PWD (R&B) clarified that the drawal authority for an amount of Rs. 2854.97 lakhs was received from the Finance department during May 2017 and payments made accordingly to the Contractor for the work. 

The amount was released since the validity of the drawal authority issued during April 2017 had lapsed and funds were not utilized, CE stated. Therefore, the question of drawing the same amount twice as mentioned was incorrect, the CE said.

The CE further clarified that although the drawal authority was issued in favour of EE, PWD (R&B), South division, Kohima, the funds were transferred to EE, PWD(R&B), Mon Division. Accordingly, CE said that the payments were released to the contractor by R&B Mon division and not South division.

The records were also available in the department and the respective R&B divisions (South division, Kohima and Mon division).