Arunachal Pradesh Power (Electrical) Minister Tanga Byaling today informed that the government had constituted the Arunachal Power Development Agency (APDA) on suggestion from the State Finance Department for implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutkaran Yojana (RGGVY) in the State. Responding to a question raised by BJP member Tumke Bagra during question hour regarding financial irregularities in implementing RGGVY, the minister disclosed that a total of 2096 un–electrified villages were proposed to be electrified under the scheme in the tenth and eleventh plan, out of which 1992 villages have been electrified with achievement of 95 per cent. “An amount of Rs 836.12 crore has been released to PIUs (Project Implementation Units) for expenditures against the project from RGGVY grant, loan or contribution from the State government,” he said. Giving a detailed account of the sanctions under RGGVY during the tenure of power secretary T Norbu Thongdok (present Deputy Speaker) and Bagra himself (who retired as Power Secretary before joining politics), Byaling informed the house that the nodal officer of the agency was removed after withdrawing an amount of Rs 34 crore against RGGVY without approval of the Finance Department and a committee was constituted to probe into the matter. He said, as per guidelines and agreement signed between the State government and REC (Regional Electricity Committee), separate bank account was the pre–requisite for implementation of RGGVY scheme in the State and the expenditure against funds received from REC was not made through the State Exchequer, he disclosed.