Of the Rs 10 lakh sanctioned for setting up clubs in 100 schools, legal metrology & consumer protection (LM&CP) department has disbursed Rs 10,000 each to 35 schools and the remaining amount of Rs 6,50,000 for the remaining 65 schools would be disbursed before the end of this year. This was stated in a press release by Right to Information (RTI) Initiative Nagaland.
And according to Odi Jamir and ST Yapang Lkr of the organisation, the department will provide a copy of beneficiaries’ list to RTI Initiative Nagaland office.
Following media reports of misappropriation of funds by legal metrology & consumer protection department, the organisation further clarified that the department had purchased five thermometer verification kits as per the department’s records on June 6, 2012, but could produce details of only two thermometer verification kits. The department had ordered the remaining three kits at a cost of Rs 9,62,789 and these would arrive shortly, the organisation added.
Further, the department had selected Pune-based Ashlin Enterprises for construction of two calibration towers at a cost of Rs 26,92,300.
However, after completion of only one tower, the department had on May 10, 2012 released the full amount. Ashlin Enterprises had, however, returned the remaining amount for construction of the second tower amounting to Rs 14 lakh as it was not feasible to construct the second calibration tower with the said amount, the release noted.
The department had also purchased coin-operated person weighing machines for Rs 20, which appeared suspicious earlier. However, despite being late, the department had produced the beneficiaries’ list and satisfied by its reply, the organisation added.
According to Right to Information Initiative Nagaland, Rs 29,72,789 was recovered and reimbursed to the department.