Govt appoints special committee to oversee and monitor earthquake rehabilitation

DEPARTMENTAL PAYMENTS TO BE RELEASED ONLY AFTER VETTING BY 6-MEMBER COMMITTEE

GANGTOK, 02 Jan: With pressure on the State government to ensure transparency over the accounts and management of funds allotted for earthquake reconstruction, and even demands for a White Paper on the same [already announced by the State Government], the Controller of Accounts, Finance Department, has been given the charge of a Committee constituted for this purpose. Significantly, only after clearance issued by this Committee will departments be released payments for any reconstruction work undertaken by them. Utilization Certificates for funds utilized are to be issued immediately by the committee and there is to be regular monitoring of progress made.

Incidentally, the Chief Minister has assured that a White Paper on the funds allotted for such reconstruction and rehabilitation works will be released by the State government as well.
The State government, in the last week of December, constituted a 6-member Committee to ensure “effective monitoring and management of transaction relating to infrastructure damaged by the earthquake”. While the Controller of Accounts has been appointed Chairperson of the committee, overall supervision has been allocated to the Advisor, Finance Department.  
Apart from examining proposals for reconstruction of infrastructure put up by the various line departments, this Committee will maintain receipts and payments accounts for reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure as well.
All works will be monitored by the committee and this includes the physical progress made by the line departments on reconstruction and rehabilitation works. All financial aspects of these works will also be monitored. In fact all payments to the departments for the infrastructure reconstruction works are to be made only after due clearance by this committee.
There will be periodical inspection of the reconstruction and rehabilitation works and all departments are required to submit monthly status reports to the committee.
The committee, in turn, is required to submit such reports along with details on release of resources and utilization of funds to the State government for appraisal.
Finally, a verification of the reconstruction and rehabilitation works will be undertaken to ensure that the works are as per the policy framed by the government and the committee is to ensure that utilization certificates for funds used are submitted immediately.
Apart from the Controller of Accounts, other members include Principal Director, Finance Department; Director, Budget; Director, Accounts, Development Planning, Economic Reforms and North East Council Affairs Department; Director, Internal Audit, Finance Department and Joint Director, Accounts, Finance Department.