Leader of opposition and senior NPF leader TR Zeliang has urged Governor PB Acharya to order probe by State Vigilance Commission into the delay in release of Rs 96 crore Grant-in-Aid (GiA) by the rural development department.
In a representation to the governor, Zeliang mentioned that the Union finance ministry had released Rs 185.09 crore on November 8, 2017 to the State government for the period 2017-18 for areas not included in Part IX and IXA of the Constitution of India with a clear directive that the grant should be applicable for utilisation in consonance with the guidelines for release of grants to “excluded areas” that the ministry issued as an office memorandum 13(34)FFC/FCD/2017-18, dated 20th October, 2017.
Thereafter, as per the guidelines, a high-level committee (HLC) was constituted with chief secretary Pankaj Kumar as chairperson on December 13, 2017 for overall monitoring of developmental activities carried out in “excluded areas.”
And for coordination and liaison in utilisation of grants, the rural development department was designated as the nodal department for effective and successful implementation of the programme in the State.
He said HLC, which held its first meeting at the chief secretary’s conference hall on December 22, 2017 and whose minutes was issued on January 17, 2018 (letter no. RD/VDB-GIA-33/2017) on January 17, 2018, approved Rs 96 crore as grant-in-aid for 74 rural development (RD) blocks in the State. However, election model code of conduct was announced by Election Commission of India the next day, compelling the previous DAN government to hold back the release of fund.
The leader of opposition said the State finance department had released the entire amount of Rs 185.09 crore to the rural development department in March this year after formation of the PDA government.
In light of the above, Zeliang explained that what had emerged is the fact that the rural development department had delayed the release of grant-in-aid amounting to Rs 96 crore for reasons best known to it although a new government was installed in March 2018. He also alleged that sub-allocations were made by the department after modifying the allocation approved by the HLC that was, according to him, contrary to the guidelines issued by the Union finance ministry.
Therefore, he alleged that not only did the rural development department made modification to the allocation approved by the HLC before making sub-allocations, but also failed to release grant-in-aid amounting to Rs 96 crore to village development boards (VDBs).
Asserting that this act of the department was highly questionable, Zeliang warned that mala fide intentions too could not be ruled out. Under the circumstances, he urged the governor to immediately order a probe by State Vigilance Commission into the matter in the larger interest of the people of Nagaland.