By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has assured the members of the Meghalaya Right To Information Movement (MRTIM) to take a fresh look at the new RTI findings relating to the alleged scam on the procurement of the CGI sheet.
This was informed by MRTIM chairman Michael Syiem after their meeting with the Chief Minister on Monday.
“The Chief Minister has assured us that he would give a fresh look on their new findings relating to the corruption involved in procurement of CGI sheets under the Rural Housing scheme,” Syiem said.
When asked if Dr Sangma had specified as what action would be initiated, the MRTIM chairman informed that the Chief Minister did not reveal the details on the proposed action to be initiated by the State Government.
Meanwhile, MRTIM member Tarun Bharatiya admitted that the assurance of the Chief Minister was quite vague.
“We are going to wait for about two weeks to see what kind of action the Government initiates,” Bharatiya said.
When asked why they have not gone to court with all the evidence Bhartiya said the MRTIM has to first exhaust all possible options before approaching the court for redressal.
“This will be our last attempt to approach the Government for initiating an independent inquiry into the scam. If this time there is no positive response then we will be compelled to approach the court,” the MRTIM member said.
He also informed that they had already had a discussion with some of the lawyers and are exploring the possibilities of seeking redressal from the court.
Bharatiya pointed out that one of the glaring irregularities in this shady deal is that a total amount of Rs 97 lakhs was withdrawn from a private account without mentioning the name of the drawee or for what purpose the amount has been withdrawn.
It may be recalled that as per the RTI findings money amounting to over Rs. 9 crore, meant for providing roofing materials for the poor was allegedly misappropriated by the housing department in connivance with the supplier during 2003-06.
Strangely, the State government although admitting in black and white that there is “circumstantial evidence” that something was wrong has nonetheless refused to conduct an inquiry by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The matter relates to 2003-06 when Corrugated Galvanised Iron (CGI) sheets were being supplied to the rural poor of the state under one of the Housing department’s scheme. The supplier according to Steel Authority of India challan lifted grade VIII CGI sheet but in the supply invoice showed that the sheets were of Grade III quality which is a better quality and costs more.
The department in its defence pointed out that it did not have the material to check the quality of the CGI sheets, but at the same time claimed that all the materials supplied were of the quality indented and paid for.
But what is more damaging is the revelation that the housing department’s then Director VA Sangma opened a savings account at Vijaya Bank, Laitumkhrah on 17 December, 2003 and parked most of the amounts from the scheme there.
Under Meghalaya Treasury Rules, 1985 prior permission is required to open a savings account. In Sangma’s case the permission was not obtained.
None of the transactions made from the account was routed through the cash books of the Director of housing department and thus evaded legislative scrutiny. In effect the entire amount was operated outside of the Government’s purview.