NGO cries hoarse, alleges improper fund distribution against DDM

Itagar, Dec 16: Green Aruchal Foundation (GAF) chairman Takam Tatung in a letter to the State’s Chief Secretary (CS) sought registration of case against officers of Department of Disaster Magement for improper distribution of relief and rehabilitation funds.

GAF said the case should be registered by Special Investigation Cell or the police, pointing out that DDM did not conduct any meeting since September 23 last year.

“The Central fund of about Rs 60-crore under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) was allocated to the DDM for mitigation of various relief and rehabilitation purposes in the State. But the Right to Information (RTI) has revealed that the amount was distributed in an improper manner to various working departments without the approval of the CS who is the chairperson of state executive committee as per norms,” Tatung told reporters at Aruchal Press Club here.

Perusal of documents obtained through RTI from the DDM showed how funds were not equally and feasibly distributed in the districts except Tawang, West Kameng and msai.

The funds were released to the Capital Complex Deputy Commissioner on mere file noting with initiation from the Disaster Magement director through the department’s secretary to the ministers concerned by passing the office of CS, Tatung alleged and demanded the Governor’s intervention in the matter.

Tatung alleged that Nob Tsering, a lower divisiol clerk during the time of late Dorjee Khandu and now the Relief Deputy Director in Tawang and officer on special duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, could be a citizen of Tibet and not India.

“The suspicion arises from the department’s failure in furnishing substantiating documents related to his appointment as well as his Indian identity. As he is OSD to the chief minister, the issue is very serious and a matter of State’s security. The chief minister should clarify on this,” Tatung said.

He also asked Pema Khandu to reinvestigate the death of his father. “The government is yet to find the black box (of the ill-fated chopper that crashed killing Dorjee Khandu) after so many years and the cause of the accident,” Tatung said, advising the chief minister to resume the ‘public darshan’ programme to know the grievances of the people first-hand.