Only 1 project completed in 5 yrs; several abandoned
Fr
TURA: The Executive Member for Taxation Department and sitting MDC from Wagesik constituency in South Garo Hills had allegedly allotted 76 schemes from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council valued at Rs.71,63,312 in the names of his wife, two sons and daughter, work for which was never completed, it has been revealed in an RTI.
The RTI findings made public by the Garo Students’ Union of Mindikgre unit in South Garo Hills revealed that Frederson N Sangma, alias Gantong Sangma, allocated fifty number of council projects to his wife Girija Marak, six projects to his daughter Tenge Marak and twenty other projects to his two sons Geoffrey Tengkrang Marak and Zackaria Tochri Marak between 2011 and 2013.
Out of the 76 projects awarded by the MDC to his own family only one project undertaken by his daughter was found to have been completed in the year 2012-2013.
Three other projects given to the daughter allegedly did not take off despite funds having already been released.
One of the MDC’s sons, Zackaria Tochri Marak, who received 9 projects valued at over Rs.15 lakh, never undertook any of the works.
Another son, Geoffrey Tengkrang Marak undertook partial work for ten projects valued at Rs.4.41 lakh and abandoned another project valued at Rs.93,400 without undertaking any work, revealed the RTI findings by the GSU.
The MDC’s wife, who received the highest number of schemes valued at Rs.44,25,610 allegedly undertook partial works only, none of which were completed, as indicated in the RTI findings.
The allegations of funds misappropriation has also extended to other beneficiaries of the sitting MDC including his relatives who are alleged to have benefited from another Rs.16 lakh for various rural projects.
A vast majority of the projects centered on construction of RCC footpaths, culverts, ring wells, spring tapped chamber wells, foot bridges, waiting shed, washing platform in villages, tube wells, and twin bathrooms.
The glaring misappropriation of funds is seen in many of the schemes where large amounts of money have been allocated for minuscule works.
While the construction of a twin bathroom for males and females with improvement of an RCC ring well at Masighat was estimated at Rs.1,79,550, the MDC allocated Rs.1,38,510 just for the construction of a foundation stone at Baghmara guest house. A similar amount was allotted for another foundation stone at Mindikgre village court.
“The GHADC is unable to pay regular salaries for its employees for six long months citing lack of funds, yet lakhs of rupees are misappropriated by the sitting MDCs,” accused GSU president from Mindikgre Greneth Sangma who unearthed the funds misappropriation by the sitting Wagesik MDC.
