RTI documents reveal brazen misappropriation
SHILLONG: That Meghalaya is a corrupt State is a well known fact. However, what is not known is that corruption has reached to such an abysmal depth in the State that now even the dead are not spared.
A shocking case of misappropriation of fund to the tune of around Rs 19 lakh meant for construction of three crematoriums has come to light in East Khasi Hills district, thanks to documents obtained through an application posted under the RTI Act, 2005.
Documents obtained by the Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) Mawsynram Unit, reveal that Tylli Lang Myrthong, president of Seng Khasi Kenmynsaw and secretary of Dorbar Hima Mawsynram, has allegedly misappropriated schemes meant for construction of crematoriums in three villages under Mawsynram.
The schemes included construction of a crematorium at Kenmynsaw Syntein at a cost of Rs 10.81 lakh, another at Kenbah Syntein at Rs 6.5 lakh sanctioned under the Special Central Assistance 2013-2014 and a third crematorium at Mawlyngbna for which Rs 1.50 lakh was allocated from the MP Local Area Development Scheme 2013-2014.
The documents reveal that money meant for the three schemes were allegedly misused by Myrthong sometime after 2014.
It is alleged that two of the projects were not implemented while a third is under construction even though guidelines of the schemes put forth the condition that the crematorium should be completed within three months.
Myrthong has been supervising the proposed crematorium at Kenmynsaw Syntein since July, 2014 and has withdrawn Rs. 4,32,400 so far but even after two years the construction has not been completed.