Shillong, October 30: Conglomeration of NGO’s of Garo Hills has written to the Chief Executive Members of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Mr Denang T. Sangma expressing their apprehensions regarding the transparency of utilization of the Rs. 100.71 cores, Central Government “One Time Special Assistance Centre Plan Scheme for 2015-16”.
The letter said that it is with the greatest of apprehension that we the GSU, ADE, AYWO, FAF and FKJGP wishes to comprehend the allegations that are being hurled at the ruling party that the money meant for the development of Garo Hills is being siphoned off by unscrupulous means. Reports heaped on our ears suggest a coterie of MDCs, leaders as well as businessmen are involved in the whole mess and there are corruptions galore on a scale that it is being touted as huge scam. They believe it is the CEM will take to measure, correct and root out the problems and ensure corrective measures are put in place. We shall not appreciate a corrective measure that is dilatory and counterproductive to the purpose of development.
The GSU, AYWO, ADE, FAF and FKJGP have been in the loop regarding the tripartite peace settlement of the ANVC and the ANVC-B. The GSU, in 2013, while submitting memorandums to the various ministries at Delhi had also discussed about the various strategies and possibilities for the development of Garo Hills regarding the proposals contained in the ANVC and ANVC-B memorandum. The GSU, AYWO, ADE, FAF and FKJGP were part of the team who witnessed the signing of the peace agreement.
The GSU is part of the Joint Monitoring Committee at the Centre to the tripartite peace treaty and have attended the meetings. The point to be noted is that we are all aware of the monetary packages the Central Govt has promised to the people of Garo Hills. We are aware that the Central Govt has kept its promise. We are also aware that the money has been deposited in the HDFC Bank.
Then suddenly we have received a table titled “Abstract of Schemes of the GHADC Volume 1: Creation and maintenaince of Assets for 2016-16” where resources from the Central Grant has been allocated as contract works to individuals. We are worried because it has not been a month as far as our knowledge is concerned from the date of deposit how the money is being utilized without proper estimates and DPRs. We have some issues regarding the utilization of the 100 crore grant because:
The Conglomeration of NGO’s from Garo Hills said that they have not seen any advertisements for the contract works, they were not privy to the information that tenders were floated to attract contractors. Almost every person we discussed from clerks to peons to officers has reported that no tenders were floated in the office or in the newspapers.
It is learn that there a Tender Committee was formed later but officially shown that the committee was formed on the 14th Oct’2016 whereas the committee was formed on the 24th Oct’2016. There is protest by the opposition because of this gross violation of guidelines.
In the letter written to the CEM of the GHADC the NGO’s said that they are concerned about possible scams because of the serious and non-transparent manner in which the distribution of contract works and allocation of funds to projects were expedited. It was learn that some of the contract works have already been completed like,Construction of Member’s hostel, Tura. 6.22 cores, Construction of Taxation Office Building, Tura 1.89 crore, In what manner and way is the Shopping complex at Tura Bazar and Hawakhana are going to be extended.
“As far as we know NITI AAYOG modalities have been infringed upon and would like to know some details whether the guidelines have been fulfilled. Therefore we want information on the following points,Clause of the District Council Level Committee of the NITI AAYOG guideline discusses about DCLC which comprises the MDCs and Department Heads of the GHADC which must submit recommendations to the SLC for consideration and approval so that State Plan Schemes and Centrally sponsored schemes converges with it to register progress in terms of socio-economic parameters”.
The details we seek are who the members of the DCLC are and how has the project proposals received lightening fast approval without detailed study of the project in within a short as just two or three weeks. The NGO’s said as per “Clause 3: SLC” who are the two members co-opted by the SLC from the GHADC? This little tidbit of information must be informed to us if there is no corruption in the offing.
The guideline also provides that the SLC should ensure coverage of all villages/habitations as far as possible while the break-up of the project proposal of the DLC shows only maximum projects in Tura and only minor projects in most of the villages of Garo Hills.As per “Clause 4. Identification and Prioritisation of Projects. (2)” speaks about duplicity of expenditure on the same projects. As per the distributed contract works, there seems to be duplicity galore.
It will be very interesting to watch the completion of the Additional Building GHADC guest house which has at its disposal to spend almost Rs 81 lacs because as far as we know there are no other land owned by the District Council in Shillong. Where is the additional building GHADC guest house going to be built? And Rs 11 lacs wall fencing at Shillong could be quite an interesting project.
The Taxation Office of the GHADC has already been completed under the 13th Finance. Upon enquiry the Secretary of the GHADC has said that the quarter of the peons and chowkidar will be dismantled and a new building for taxation will rise up. The amount of Rs.1 crore 89 Lacs 98 Thousand 9 hundred has been allocated. Let us watch how almost two crore will be spent on a small area and without a new strengthened retaining wall.
There is also a project for the extension of the Shopping complex at Tura bazar. The cost of the project is Rs.1 crore 28 Lacs 23 thousand but the question is how is it going to be extended. As per Urban building laws only four storeys are possible. The extension plan must be to add two more storeys again it will be interesting to see how the money is going to be spent, perhaps it will be inlaid with semi-precious gems and will glitter with high grade marble and granite decoration with air conditioned rooms with attached latrines of international quality.
The Member’s Hostel building at Tura already stands perhaps a new building is going to be erected at the cost of Rs. 6 crore 26 lacs and 22 thousand 5 hundred .The extension of the shopping complex for Rs. 1 crore 21 Lacs 85 thousand will be also interesting on such a small area perhaps the GHADC is planning to build a building with two storey basement so that the total number of storey is six.
“As per guideline “6.1: Maintainance of Accounts” the District Council is responsible for the maintainance of separate account for the utilization of funds as prescribed by the relevant norms and guidelines of CAG/AG, we have doubts when it has been informed to us that money has been withdrawn and dispersed to the contractors even when constructions have not even started”.
The NGO’s claim, that this looks like a new type of operation when what is required is that tenders should have been floated and contract works should have been awarded according to the capabilities, experience and strength of a contractor. But the scenario presents a coterie who have been awarded contract works so that money could be siphoned of illegally based on predetermined set of agreements.
So we require information of the accounts maintained by the District Council so that the money withdrawn and the money dispersed is accounted for and transparent. The suspicious nature as watch dogs of the society has once again come to the fore because of the over bloated estimates and expenditures of the contract works and allocation of funds to already completed projects.
Most of the projects and contracts granted have already been, as far as we know, undertaken during the 13th Finance Commission 2010-2015. If funds have been allocated as contract works for already completed projects then we smell a huge scam. The present allocation of funds to contract works are to the tune of Rs 45 crore therefore Rs 55 crore must remain in the bank account in the HDFC bank.
There has been a report that even before the contract work has begun money has been withdrawn. We have been informed that many MDCs and Officers of the GHADC have already withdrawn money perhaps based on the fact that completed projects are going to be shown as utilization of the funds. We are confused and would like to know the truth that is why we need to be enlightened about some points:
The NGO’s asked ,how much of the 100 crores remain in the bank? They request the GHADC to give details of the remaining amount in the HDFC bank.Who are the signatories when money from the bank was withdrawn from the bank, How much money has been withdrawn from the bank, Who are the cashiers of the GHADC who have received the release order of the money from the 100 crore grant,Who are the beneficiaries of the 100 crore grant from the centre, the release order document for withdrawal of the money from the 100 crore grant.Who is the bank manager of the HDFC who has released the money from the 100 crore grant,How much of the money has the treasurer of the GHADC received from the bank,How has the money been utilized and who are the contractors to whom the money has been allocated, The details about how much money has so far been withdrawn by the each contractor? The names of the contractor, the work estimate of each contract awarded to each contractor, the DPR of each project.
The NGO’s want to know about the detail project that completed during the 13th Finance Commission, The expenditures of the projects and, to whom contract works were awarded and when were the projects started and completed. The organization asked for the detail report
The NGO’s said that there have far too many scams in the District Council especially the computerization of the District Council office or the computer supply scam, the scam of the regular revenue collection and now the possibility of the 100 crore scam. This Central Govt Scheme is for the development of Garo Hills and not to be misutilised by a select elected few and their coterie of businessmen.
The Central Government has released the Rs 100 crore in February 2016 and the state government released the fund to the GHADC on October this year. The germane way to excogitate on the matter is to concur with the fact that transparency has taken a back seat and now the action calls for ramification of procedure to ensure prudence lest corruption once again wins with impunity which will be ultimately detrimental to the development of Garo Hills.
The Ngo’s said “of course, the debilitating factor of the actions of the GHADC regarding the 100 crore grant from the Centre Government is the fact that everything has been hushed up and expedited which is again quite surprising relating to its rather usual lackadaisical approach and indecisiveness on many matters of the council.
It is a special delectation to watch the GHADC function very efficiently when such a huge amount is concerned but the apprehension always tilts towards corruption when it is extra efficient. The reports that 60% of the Rs. 100 crore (or 60% of Rs. 45 crore) has been withdrawn from the bank without a stiver of work and how could anyone within two weeks of the deposit. Tenders for the contracts were not floated or advertised.
They claim that they have proof that the Tender Committee was formed when possibility of trouble reared as a case has been filed and the Tender Committee was formed on a back date to eschew trouble when the GHADC rulers realized they have made a faux pas as far as the rigmarole and the official procedures is concerned.
How is that the Chief Secretary, Shri KS Kropha who heads the SLC simply approved the proposals submitted by the GHADC without confirmation, correct and full appraisal of the proposals. Wherewithal the expert opinions of the SLC, when it approves the proposal of the GHADC taxation office, Members Hostel, extension of Council shopping complexes at Tura Bazar and Hawakhana. A retaining wall for the Dy. CFO Quarter for 34 lacs 21 thousand, it will be interesting to see whether the retaining wall will have graphite or marble walls just like Taj Mahal.
We demand that the GHADC immediately stop the withdrawal of money from the Central grant “One Time Special Assistance” sanctioned by the Government of India through the Ministry of Finance for 1015-16 until the confusion, violation of democracy, resistance to divulging of information is adjudicated where transparency and fair conduct is maintained for the development of Garo Hills and corruption is nipped in the bud before it tramples the whole objective of infusing the much needed funds for socio-economic development of the region.
In the letter to the CEM of the GHADC the NGO’s said “ we do not make these requests likely and will proceed with agitation programmes if there is indeed a scam in the making and huge embezzlement is in progress when money is withdrawn even before an iota of work commences and this is the first time we ever heard of it”.
The letter sent to the CEM of the GHADC was sign by the president GSU, Tengsak Gabil Momin John Miltu Sangma Genenral Secretary, Dalseng Bira Ch. Momin President ADE, Pritam R. Marak President FKJGP (Garo Hills Zone) Sengbath Ch. Marak General Secretary AYWO, Central Body.
