Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) accused ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government led by Chief Minister Nephiu Rio in Nagaland of diverting funds earmarked for projects most of which have been completed while others are nearing completion.
In a statement on Thursday evening, the NPF Central Headquarters termed the PDA government’s announcement to bring funds from the Centre to develop the state as hollow and devoid of any basis.
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To substantiate its point, the opposition party said going by the government’s decision taken on March 14, funds sanctioned by the earlier government for maintenance and repair of roads in various parts of the state have been redirected according to the whims and fancies of the Chief Minister to benefit his areas and cronies.
The NPF said it is in no way against any developmental activity anywhere in the state and wholeheartedly welcomes the PDA government’s decision to develop areas where the Chief Minister has his interests.
“But it is most distressing that instead of bringing additional funds from the Centre, the Government of the day has stooped to divert funds earmarked for projects most of which have been completed and others are nearing completion,” the statement said.
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It added that diversion of funds already sanctioned and approved by the department and duly cleared by the departments of Planning and Finance for projects in various districts and concentration of these funds for projects in one or two districts is totally unjustified, most despicable and in a very bad taste.
Maintaining that the earlier government had accorded sanction for development, repair and maintenance in 17 road projects all over the state under Special Road Development Programme amounting to Rs 150 crore, the NPF said much to the chagrin of the public and the contractors (some of whom have volunteered to undertake the works on the request of the general public even without work orders since Model Code of Conduct came into effect then), the PDA government had, on March 14, revised the projects and administrative approval for withdrawal of funds was reissued for other works.
The party demanded the PDA government, in all fairness, fair play and decency, ensure that contractors of the projects completed and initiated by the earlier DAN government are paid in full without any delay.