Alleged misappropriation of funds in Khasi Heritage Village project
SHILLONG: KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Tuesday said he had reservations over the manner in which the previous Congress-led Executive Committee (EC) had selected the firm to implement the Khasi Heritage Village project at Mawphlang without calling for an open tender.
“The previous EC had handed over the project to Anderson Structural Consultant by way of private negotiation. This has put a serious doubt in the minds of the people,” Basaiawmoit said while replying to a Zero Hour notice jointly moved by Congress MDCs – Pynshngain N Syiem and Lamphrang Blah – on the first day of the KHADC budget session on Tuesday.
Basaiawmoit said that the total estimated cost of the project would have been drastically reduced if the previous EC had called for open tender.
The KHADC CEM also saw no justification in the fact that an amount of Rs.32 lakh had been proposed for construction of two toilets at the Heritage Village site.
“The main idea behind this project is to promote the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the indigenous Khasi community. But I do not see any logic in developing European toilets at the Village which is not at all connected to the Khasi tradition,” Basaiawmoit said. He said that the Council could have utilized some of the amount earmarked for the toilets for constructing other infrastructures.
“We are also not happy with some other components of the project. The present EC would discuss the matter in details before taking a final call on the same,” he said.
He indicated that the EC would not hesitate in constituting an independent inquiry should the need arise.
The KHADC CEM also asserted that the present EC had no intention of demeaning the previous EC.
“We have to provide the people with correct information about the project as the people have every right to know the same,” he said.
