Assam Govt Hands Over NCHAC Scam to CBI

Guwahati, Sep 27 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will probe financial irregularities in the departments of PWD, Agriculture, Health, Forest, Social Welfare, Education, Tourism and Public Health Engineering (PHE) in connection with the alleged Rs 1,000-crore scam in NC Hills district.

This was revealed by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi while addressing the media today.

Gogoi said that the State Government’s decision followed the report of the Accountant General (AG) that it received on August 23, 2010, after it was sent to the Governor first.

“We are for unearthing the financial irregularities and never for protecting any guilty person. Those responsible for the scam will be punished. It is us who started the investigations into the NC Hills scam by instituting the Justice Manisana Singh commission of inquiry,” Gogoi said.

The Chief Minister while admitting that there had been misappropriation and diversion of public funds in NC Hills declined from commenting on the magnitude of the anomalies. “The reports say there have been financial irregularities but about the amount involved I cannot say ...,” he said.

On the border row with several neighbouring States, Gogoi said that the State Government would raise a special border protection force and a cell with officials. They will have the mandate of preventing encroachment and deal with other border-related issues.

“We are duty-bound to protect the constitutional boundary of the State. In view of the nagging border disputes and encroachment on border areas, we will have a special border protection force soon. A cell with officials will also be formed to look after border-related matters,” he said.