Manipur Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh on Thursday took charge of key departments of Finance, Public Works and Power departments following RBI banning all government withdrawals after the state government defaulted by over drafting expenditure.
Sunzu Bachaspatimayum
Significantly, the tough measures taken by the Chief Minister following the financial crisis comes at a time when Th Biswajit Singh who held the Public Works and Power, is spearheading a campaign to dislodge N Biren Singh from chief Minister ship. Deputy chief Minister, N Joykumar Singh who handed the finance department, was largely rumoured to be dropped from N Biren Singh’s ministry.
A late night emergency Cabinet meeting was held on Wednesday, to deliberate on the RBI ban on all transaction of funds from the account of the government with effect from June for having overdrawn in excess of arrangements agreed upon with the apex bank.
The Cabinet authorised the Chief Minister to take all necessary disciplinary actions to imbibe a culture of financial prudence and propriety in key state government departments, stated a release issued by the Chief Minister’s secretariat.
Another release by the chief minister’s secretariat stated that huge amounts of money were withdrawn by Public Works and Power department during the period of March to May, 2019 while the Model Code of Conduct was in force.
The release further stated that a three member-committee, comprising principal secretary finance, V Vumlunmang, ccommissioner-cum secretary, finance and OSD to the chief Minister, Nidhi Kesarwani and deputy secretary, finance secretary, finance, W Ajit Singh would examine the large withdrawals by Public Works, Power and all other departments.
The committee would conduct a thorough investigation of the sanction procedures and financial management of all key departments.
While assuring its employees that timely disbursement of salaries and benefits will not be impact by the financial crisis, the government reiterated that it is committed to bringing a new phase wherein financial discipline will be the hallmark of governance.
