Nongrum defends decision with figures
SHILLONG: The Congress-led Opposition in the KHADC lambasted the Executive Committee for leasing out all the 18 beat and range offices of the Forest department to private parties.
Raising the issue during the Question Hour on the first day of the budget session of the Council on Monday, Congress MDC from Laitumkhrah, Antonio War questioned the decision of the new EC to lease out the 18 beat and range offices of the Forest department within months of assuming office.
Refusing to accept the justification given by KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum who had cited enhanced revenue collection as the reason for outsourcing, War said that the previous EC led by Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit had scrapped the lease with private parties due to leakage of revenue.
However, the KHADC CEM justified the decision of the EC by quoting the revenue generated by the Forest offices after they were leased out to private parties with the revenue figures from the past.
Earlier, War questioned whether the EC had done a comparative study before taking the decision to lease out the beat and range offices.
Questioning the decision behind leasing out the beat offices suddenly, War also alleged that the staff manning these beat offices are not properly discharging their duties due to the step taken by the EC.
The 18 beat and range offices which have been leased out includes Umsning Beat, Umsiang Beat, Umling Beat, Lailad Beat, Byrnihat Beat, 14th Miles Northern Range, Paham Range/Beat, Patharkhmah Beat, Athiabari Beat, Shillong Beat and Mairang Beat among others.
Responding to the allegations, CEM Adelbert Nongrum informed the House that the EC decided to lease out the forest beat offices after conducting a study of the comparative statements of previous years.
“Various anomalies were found by the EC in the manner in which these beat offices were run by the department. Step has been taken to raise revenue collection of the Council and the lease agreement is only for three months as the step has been taken on a trial basis (from December 23, 2014 to March 31, 2015),” the CEM said.
However, the Opposition was in no mood to relent and inquired if any tender was floated to lease out the offices.
A negative answer from the KHADC CEM drew sarcastic reactions from War who asked if the CEM had allotted the work on basis of “friendship with the private parties”.
Nongrum responded by saying the leases were allotted as per the “system” and the EC selected the highest bidder from those who submitted their applications.
Answering to a query raised by War on how much revenue was collected from the 14th Miles beat office, Nongrum informed that during 2011-12, only Rs 2003 was collected from the beat. The figure was Rs 1003 during 2012-13 and from April 1, 2014 to September 30, 2014, the forest department generated Rs 9018 from the beat. However, after leasing out the beat office, the KHADC has been able to generate Rs 73, 332 so far.
Nongrum also informed that as per the comparative study the Nongpoh beat office had collected only Rs 33, 244 till October 2014, but the amount shot up to Rs 68, 500 after it was leased out.
Similarly, the collection at Nongstoin beat office was nil till it was leased out to a private party which has collected Rs 15, 000 so far.
Regarding the alleged improper functioning of the KHADC staff, Nongrum assured that the EC will streamline and would soon come up with a rotation policy in different departments to ensure that the services of the staffs are best utilized.