IMPHAL, May 14: None of the officials of the General Administration Department (GAD) will be spared if found guilty of mismanagement of funds and items requisitioned for the visit of VIPs and VVIP`s to the state which have now been found missing. This was announced by Punzathang Tongsing, Minister General Administrative Department (GAD) Government of Manipur in a press conference held at his residence at Sangaiprou.
Minister Punzathang Tongsing said that he had come across news reports about items going missing from the GAD godown. He clarified that he along with the officials of the GAD had a serious discussion regarding the matter and after serious examination it has come to light that the missing items which have been reported was meant for the visit of President Prathibha Devi Patel and the visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to the state in 2011 he said.
He further said that he was not the Minister of GAD in 2011 but said that he will look into the matter very seriously and take up a proper action against any individual or officials of GAD and other agencies found guilty in the matter.
The minister further briefed the media that the GAD spent a total of 15 lakh rupees with regard to the recent visit of President Pranab Mukherjee on April 15 and 16 as sanctioned by the State Finance Department. He further added that detailed expenditure was being maintained this time for the amount spent on hotel charges for the accommodation of the entourage accompanying the VVIPs,for the installation of temporary hotlines telephones wherever the visiting VVIPs and the members of their entourage stayed, cultural program with state dinners memento/ gift, hiring of sofa set, chair and labour charges.
The GAD material are being kept in the 1st Manipur Riffles Banquet Hall due to lack of sufficient space in the secretariat, the Minister continued.
Regarding allegations that the department had not floated open tender for the last 11 years in the state, he clarified that the department was not able to do so due to the law and order situation in the state he said. He then went on to add that following his taking charge of the GAD, open tenders for supplying material items including catering / canteen for Manipur Bhavan at Kolkata and New Delhi have been done.
It may be mentioned that a team of the estimate committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly had inspected the godown of GAD located at 1st MR on May 8 and expressed serious concern over the existing state of items being stored for use during VIP and VVIP visits to the state.