From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: The Lamdibok Sumer-led Executive Committee of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) has come under severe criticism amongst its members for allegedly misuse of Council funds to the tune of Rs 1.95 crore by some Executive Members and officers.
Sources alleged that the misuse of public funds has badly affected the financial position of the Council which is facing acute financial crisis due to which payment of last month’s salary to the staff has been delayed.
Sources informed that in the last Executive Committee (EC) meeting held recently some EC members hotly debated the alleged misuse of funds by some members and officers of the Council.
“Some of the members even banged the CEM’s table on learning that some EMs including the CEM himself were involved in misuse of the Council funds,” sources said.
According to sources money was withdrawn from the Council fund on three separate occasions.
The first withdrawal of Rs 1.18 crore was made in March and the second and third withdrawal of Rs 50 lakh and Rs 35 lakh respectively was made in August and September.
JHADC sources informed that the closing balance of the Council during March ending as per the Personal Ledger Account (PLA) available with the Treasury Office was Rs 5,62,03,417 out of which the Council has made a single withdrawal of Rs 46,35,765 in August and again Rs 2,85,71,440 in September. Both the withdrawals were made for payment of salaries, pension, travelling allowance and others.
“Now the JHADC is left only with Rs 71,87,074,” sources said adding that the Council requires a minimum amount of Rs 2.50 crore for payment of salary for the staffs and its elected members.
Sources also informed that some of the EC members who were not involved in the misappropriation of the funds have even threatened to tender their resignation over the issue.
