HC directs state government to file ATR in flood relief scam

Patna, Jan 31 (UNI) Patna High Court today directed the state government to conclude the internal audit of the funds meant for flood relief scam within a month and file an Action Taken Report by April 2007.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition, a division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice J N Bhatt and Justice Shaliesh Kumar Sinha passed the order.

Counsel of the petitioner had alleged that huge anomalies were committed while the distribution of the relief fund meant for flood victims of 2004 in north Bihar.

The counsel also alleged that a large sum of the Rs 243 crores, alloted to the natural disaster management as relief, was siphoned by the concerned officers.

UNI