Friday, March 29, 2024
spot_img

Irregularities in Printing and Stationery dept come to light

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

SHILLONG, July 5: A city lawyer on Tuesday demanded an independent inquiry into the misappropriation of public money and violations of consumer’s rights by the Department of Printing and Stationery.
The lawyer and social activist, Egenstar Kurkalang submitted a letter to the Chief Minister’s Office enclosed with RTI findings.
Citing the documents obtained via RTI, Kurkalang said the Comptroller and Auditor General had detected the misappropriation of Rs 2.09 crore (Rs 209.47 lakh) in the department during 2010-2020. The money pertained to the printing works entrusted by the National Health Mission and the state’s Directorate of Health Services but outsourced to unqualified firms or traders or individuals without tender, approved rate, formality code and rate quotation among others.
The documents enclosed pointed to an unauthorised expenditure of Rs 87.58 lakh due to procurement of materials from a disqualified supplier, outstanding printing charges of Rs 37.26 lakh from a department corporation, avoidable expenditure of Rs 2.04 lakh due to irregularity in the procurement of single colour sheet-feed offset machine, irregularities in printing works awarded to a private firm, double payment of electricity bills amounting to Rs 2.82 lakh, idle stock worth Rs 47.48 lakh, non-adjustment of medical advances amounting to Rs 23.04 lakh besides irregularities in depositing government receipts.
Stating that the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 empower the consumers and the citizens to know about their rights that ensures the quality, quantity and price of the items or goods they purchase, Kurkalang said: “Unfortunately for food grains and food items including livestock feed commonly used by farmers, the traders are no more measuring the items but charging and delivering at a lump sum price per 50 kg per of rice and other items.”
Traders used to charge according to actual weight prior to 2010, he said. “This is a clear violation of the rights of the consumers by the government (Supply department) and the traders involved, leading to corruption. The government must investigate the matter and action against those involved,” the lawyer-activist said, adding such irregularities rob the government of revenue.
Kurkalang had contested the 2018 Assembly polls from the state BJP but had later resigned. He said he is not associated with any political party currently.

spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

Arunachal was, is, and will remain an integral part of India: MEA

New Delhi, Mar 28:  The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that China's repetitive claims on...

SP injured in Arunachal’s Longding as crowd pelt stones during scrutiny of nominations

Itanagar, March 28: Superintendent of Police of Arunachal Pradesh's Longding district, Dekio Gumja, was injured after some people...

Aditi Rao Hydari confirms union with Siddharth

Shillong, March 28: Actress Aditi Rao Hydari, who secretly got engaged to actor Siddharth on Wednesday, confirmed their...

India’s core sector industries clock 6.7 percent growth in February

Shillong, March 28: The eight core industries that include sectors such as coal, cement, steel and electricity posted...