Shillong, November 11: The NGO’s from Garo Hills in their meeting with the governor Mr V Shanmuganathan 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. We believe it is the CEMs bailiwick 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.
they 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 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.
Because some of the contract works have already been completed like, Construction of Member’s hostel, Tura Rs.6.26 crore ,Construction of Taxation Office Building, Tura Rs.1.89 cores 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.
In what manner and way is the Shopping complex at Tura Bazar and Hawakhana are going to be extended. There is also a project for the extension of the Shopping complex at Tura bazar. The cost of the project is Rs.1.28 crore 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.
It will be very interesting to watch the completion of the Additional Building GHADC guest house at Shillong 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 NGO’s 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. 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.
Their 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/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 45,00,00,000.00/- (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.
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 Govt has released the Rs 100 crore in February 2016 and the state govt released the fund to the GHADC on Oct’16. 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.
They said, Of course, the debilitating factor of the actions of the GHADC regarding the 100 crore grant from the Centre Govt 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 demanded 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.
The potential of Garo Hills for power projects have been appreciated, measured and found feasible. And several attempts on the part of the government to initiate the power projects in Garo Hills have been made. We appreciate the efforts of the government.
It is high time that the benefits of these projects are reaped by the people of Garo Hills. With so much potential for power generation it is a matter of great inconvenience and difficulty to endure daily power shut downs. Besides the dream of the government to encourage industrialization in Garo Hills will only be possible if power is sufficient. Investments by big companies can be encouraged only if sufficient power generation exists.
The two stage hydel power project one at Rongmachok and another at Pelga will be a welcome reprieve for the state as this will ease the pressure on supply of energy required to satisfy the domestic needs. 22MW power will be generated which will supplement the energy requirement of Garo Hills. 370 MW energy supply is required for Garo Hills at present so the Ganol Hydel Power project will be a much needed reprieve.
The Ganol Hydel Power project is a must for Garo Hills because with the increase in population energy consumption will shoot through the roof. Though the initial signs of preparing the site have been in progress the actual work of construction has been kept in abeyance because revised estimate is being resubmitted. The State Forest Department has given a clearance for the go ahead for the project. The corrective measures taken in the form of revised estimate is an understandable may perhaps be a necessary measure but the fact remains that the project must be initiated at the earliest. It is in the best interest of the state that the Ganol Hydel Power project be commissioned as early as possible.
The potential benefits to be reaped by Garo Hills, the job opportunities for locals and infusion of capital into the economy of Garo Hills will be a gift nay a boon for this part of the region. So we request that this visionary and necessary step undertaken by the government for the benefit of all is started at the earliest.
The maintenance of the desired uninterrupted power supply in Tura is under the watch of a sub-division called the Tura Profit Centre. The profit centre responds to emergencies on the disturbance of power supply either due to damages to the power lines and problems miscellaneous to maintenance of uninterrupted power supply. Tura, which is second to Shillong in terms of size and importance is presently being looked after by only one Sub-Division i.e. Tura Profit Centre Sub-Division with only one Assistant Executive Engineer who is being assisted by one Junior Engineer and very poor infrastructure. The Tura Profit Centre is under the care of one AEE (SDO) and one JE. They have only two vehicles to respond to emergencies at any time in cases of power disturbance. The two vehicles are one truck and a bolero pickup. They have to respond to emergencies at any part of Tura.
This kind of workload is simply ridiculous as these two vehicles are unable to respond quickly to emergencies. The frequent power disturbance occurs mainly in the rainy season where power lines are easily disturbed by wind, falling branches, uprooted trees and swaying branches. This results in lots of complaints and dissatisfaction on the part of the consumers. The inconvenience is maddening to say the least. This gives a bad name to the corporation and conditions the public to be irresponsible in the payment of electric bills.
It may be mentioned at this juncture that MeECL divides the Shillong city into seven zones or to say seven Sub-Stations for better maintenance of power supply to the consumers. The work load of each substation is lessened which makes the responses to emergencies quicker and looks more responsive. Therefore, for better service to the rapidly growing consumers of Tura town, and in line with Shillong, where power supply is managed by Area-Manager system having seven Areas, Tura too should be divided into three areas, preferably, Tura-I, Tura-II and Rural Tura.
These division into zones will create three Sub-divisions i:e three Tura Profit Centers. This will create more work forces to respond immediately to emergencies. The no of vehicles will be more to respond to emergencies and hence complaints by consumers will be duly handled without the minimum fuss.
It has been observed that most of the Distribution Sub-Division in Garo Hills has to cover a vast area with long power line network which affects the smooth maintenance of power supply under each of this Distribution Sub-Division. For better service to the people residing in Kharkutta in East Garo Hills, Tikrikilla and Dadeng in the West Garo Hills, Chokpot and Baghmara in the South Garo Hills, new Distribution Sub-Divisions needs to be created in each of these places. All these proposed Sub-Divisions, need to be made functional with adequate manpower and other resources.
The problem of influx is a serious issue and the government has failed to take concrete measures to check influx. Direct influx in Meghalaya may be checked by border fencing. There are lots of issues with border fencing relating to financial compensations. At this juncture it may be noteworthy to point out that though the border fencing has its advantages but the benefits in the long run far outweighs the disadvantages. The land outside the border fencing is now become some sort of a “no-man’s land” because these lands will not be safe from Bangladesh people. Any plantation, cultivation, cattle grazing and uses of land poses a direct threat from Bangladesh people which will steal anything from these lands outside the border fencing.
The various infiltration check gates are useless to a great extent. People have been witness to police personnel taking bribes from drivers who ferry any people to any part without the slightest maxim of duty. The infiltration gates will have to be monitored more strictly because most are simply on duty to make money. Infiltration of illegal migrants happens unabated.
Influx happens on such a scale that illegal migrants have put a strain on our limited natural resources like land, forests etc. They are also a detriment to the prosperity of the local businessman as they compete on a scale and degree that the local people are not aware of and incapable of.
Bangladeshi people from Assam enter Meghalaya posing as labourers or are employed as labourers by contractors. These people manage to stay on in places especially in commercial centres where there is a deluge of non-tribals. The contractors are supposed to register the labourers but this part of their duty is neglected.
Bangladeshis also enter Meghalaya in the guise of refugees when a natural calamity occurs, in most cases, floods. They take refuge in the refugee camps and silently and quietly disappear. They most probably stay on in either Assam or Garo Hills. These refugee camps must be strictly monitored or else they take advantage of the humanitarian efforts of India.
As said the border fencing far outweighs the negative impacts it currently presents in the long run but there is no border fencing on the Meghalaya Assam Border. These borders are porous and many Bangladeshis first enter Assam through the international border. Their modus operandi is first to settle in Lower Assam get a voters ID card then get a dual election ID card in Meghalaya and slowly but surely settle in Meghalaya i:e in Garo Hills.
