Chief Secretary not using official bungalow: Govt clarifies

SHILLONG: At a time when the State General Administration Department is facing a hard time to meet the demands from legislators and officers for official quarters in the State capital for their accommodation, Chief Secretary WMS Pariat has been keeping the official bungalow at Bivar Road for many years without occupying it.
In reaction to news report that the Chief Secretary has been availing house rent of Rs 16,000 per month despite having the official bungalow at Bivar Road with his nameplate, the Government on Thursday clarified that Pariat is not in occupation of the official bungalow.
“He is staying in his own house in Mawlai Nonglum,” the clarification said.
However, an official with GAD has confirmed that the said quarter at Bivar road has been allotted to the Chief Secretary. Pariat’s nameplate on the gates of the official bungalow bears testimony to the same.
Surprisingly, the GAD does not have any information that the Chief Secretary has not been using the official bungalow.
The Government clarified that there was no flouting of norms as far as withdrawing rent-cum-maintenance allowance of Rs 16,000 per month is concerned, even though he (Pariat) is staying in his own house at Mawlai.