Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Pradesh Tribal Movement (APTM) on Monday demanded immediate registration of an FIR and a comprehensive investigation into the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 408.56 crore released under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) 2.0 in the state.
Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here, APTM president Likha Tolum said the organisation has submitted a representation to the State Chief Secretary, the Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), and the Officer-in-Charge of ACB Police Station, urging them to act on complaints earlier lodged before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the State Vigilance authorities.
Tolum said the representation refers to complaints dated November 5 and 23, 2023, and October 7, 2024, alleging large-scale financial irregularities in the implementation of WDC-PMKSY 2.0 projects in the state.
He informed that a total of Rs. 408.56 crore was sanctioned and released on different occasions for 66 WDC-PMKSY 2.0 projects covering 1,45,915 hectares in the state.
He alleged that despite the release of the funds, no degraded land was acquired and no projects were executed on the ground.
Tolum further alleged that the project funds were diverted through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to private bank accounts of various firms and individuals. He claimed that the transfers were allegedly made under the directions of officials of the State Level Nodal Agency (SLNA), including the Director (Rural Development) and the Joint Director (RD)-cum-Joint CEO.
Tolum also alleged that the funds were released without utilisation certificates and in violation of the operational guidelines of WDC-PMKSY 2.0. He claimed that mandatory institutional mechanisms such as the Watershed Cell-cum-Data Centre (WCDC), Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs), Project Managers (PMs), Watershed Development Teams (WDTs) and Watershed Development Committees (WDCs) were not constituted before the release of the funds.
Tolum further pointed to a Department of Vigilance order dated March 12, 2024, approving a preliminary enquiry into complaints regarding the alleged misappropriation of government funds under WDC-PMKSY 2.0. The approval was accorded by the competent authority following complaints received from multiple complainants and forwarded by the CBI and other agencies.
He questioned why no FIR has been registered despite the preliminary enquiry having been approved more than two years ago.
Tolum has urged the authorities to register an FIR under appropriate provisions of law and conduct a time-bound investigation. Tolum has also sought attachment, confiscation and seizure of properties allegedly acquired from the proceeds of the alleged misappropriation and requested that such assets be treated as proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
“A fair and transparent investigation is essential to establish the facts and ensure accountability”, president APTM said.
No response from the departments or officials named in the representation was available at the time of filing this report.
