more-in Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy has accused the Raj Nivas of collecting money from individuals, organisations and entrepreneurs for de-silting ponds without getting approval from the committee headed by him under the Corporate Social Responsibility programme. Addressing a press conference here, the Chief Minister said the CSR committee had not authorised any person to collect funds for the initiative taken up by Raj Nivas. The Lt. Governor had made an appeal for financial contribution to de-silt the tanks and ponds by local communities and non-governmental organisations. “I have been receiving complaints that people from Raj Nivas were calling up individuals and organisations to provide funds under Corporate Social Responsibility plan. I don’t know for what the money is being used and how it is spent,” he said. The Chief Minister’s Office had received specific instances of officials posted at Raj Nivas making direct phone calls seeking funds. “The Lt Governor should answer whether it was under her direction,” the Chief Minister said. Mr. Narayanasamy said there were clear-cut rules on how the money had to be collected and utilised under any CSR programme. The committee headed by him had been kept under the dark in the whole process, he added. “The Lt Governor had no power to issue direction to solicit funds. She speaks about transparency on all issues. She had forgotten about transparency in this initiative ,” he said. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs would be apprised of the developments, he added.

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