GANGTOK, 18 Oct: The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee held a meeting yesterday at the Congress Head Office at Jiwan Theeng Marg to discuss, among other issues, the State Government’s demand for grant of additional Rs. 3,400 crore for immediate/ short-term rehabilitation and reconstruction works for destruction sustained in the 18 September earthquake, informs an SPCC release.
The meeting, which was presided over by the SPCC vice president Kunga Nima Lepcha, questioned the State Government’s contribution towards the earthquake relief programme in view of the Rs. 1,000 crore interim relief granted by the Central Government. While the SPCC sees this as a “huge relief fund”, it is, as per the Prime Minister’s announcement, interim and nature and as reported earlier, has still not reached the State Government.
“The Central Government has already sanctioned and advanced more than Rs 1000 Crores as relief fund and the State Government is demanding additional amount of Rs. 3400 Crores, why is the State Government deducting a day’s salary from State Government employees’ monthly salary?,” the release questions adding that some employees who are themselves victims of the earthquake have also faced such deduction.
The State Government’s proposed plan to approach financial institutions like World Bank, Asian Development Bank, etc. will further jeopardize the “already dwindling economic position” of the State, the SPCC fears.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s statement that the state government would take up construction of infrastructure in a manner that can withstand an earthquake of even 9 on the Richter scale is “nothing but an excuse to draw huge funds in the name of rebuilding Sikkim”, the Congress further alleges.
“The SPCC also warns the Chamling Government not to divert relief fund for settling pending bills of the suppliers and the contractors,” the release states adding that the party will keep “strict vigilance over such illegal activities of the Government”.
The meeting, which was presided over by the SPCC vice president Kunga Nima Lepcha, questioned the State Government’s contribution towards the earthquake relief programme in view of the Rs. 1,000 crore interim relief granted by the Central Government. While the SPCC sees this as a “huge relief fund”, it is, as per the Prime Minister’s announcement, interim and nature and as reported earlier, has still not reached the State Government.
“The Central Government has already sanctioned and advanced more than Rs 1000 Crores as relief fund and the State Government is demanding additional amount of Rs. 3400 Crores, why is the State Government deducting a day’s salary from State Government employees’ monthly salary?,” the release questions adding that some employees who are themselves victims of the earthquake have also faced such deduction.
The State Government’s proposed plan to approach financial institutions like World Bank, Asian Development Bank, etc. will further jeopardize the “already dwindling economic position” of the State, the SPCC fears.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s statement that the state government would take up construction of infrastructure in a manner that can withstand an earthquake of even 9 on the Richter scale is “nothing but an excuse to draw huge funds in the name of rebuilding Sikkim”, the Congress further alleges.
“The SPCC also warns the Chamling Government not to divert relief fund for settling pending bills of the suppliers and the contractors,” the release states adding that the party will keep “strict vigilance over such illegal activities of the Government”.
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