SHILLONG: The Manager of Meghalaya Rural Development Society (MRDS), Brillian Ch. Sangma, has denied the report related to misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs.31 lakh from the Tourism sector.
The case came to the fore after president of GSU’s Mindikgre Unit, Greneth M Sangma, lodged a complaint in this regard at Baghmara police station recently.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the official claimed that the allegation was false, unfounded and baseless and aimed to “tarnish the image of a person who has done exemplary work towards uplifting of the rural mass and has helped in promotion of multi-fold livelihood opportunities for the rural poor of South Garo Hills.”
He said that complainant has not done proper verification and without knowing the fact, had leveled false allegation against him.
The official clarified that the MRDS had received funds from the DRDA, South Garo Hills, under the BRGF programme for 2011-2012 under the Tourism sector for the interventions of purchasing of caving instruments amounting to Rs.7.5 lakh, purchase of river rafting equipment service support amounting to Rs.17.25 lakh and eco-tourism market linkage web page development, advertisement promotion, signboard etc., amounting to Rs.12 lakh.
He said that the caving equipment along with the safety gear had been procured from the Petzl Company, USA, imported through Allied Safety Equipment Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, which is being used by the caving adventurous lovers on a hire basis.
According to Sangma, the revenue collected from this activity will be further utilized for improvement and development of the sector intervention.
“Similarly two NRS E-180 river rafting boat with the required safety gear helmet, lifejacket etc., are also imported from USA through Decathlon Adventure Gear, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. All these equipments are available with the Tourism Department at Baghmara and these equipments will be maintained by Siju Eco Tourism Society, which will be officially handed over to them for maintenance and future undertaking,” he said.
The funds meant for developing of Eco Tourism Market Linkage Web Page Development etc. amounting to Rs.12 lakh had remained unused in the MRDS account and has already been transferred to the IBDLP, Baghmara, he claimed.
