SHILLONG: Delivering a marathon counter to the Opposition tirade on the poor fiscal health of the State and other issues, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Thursday asserted that the State is managing its debt-to-GSDP ratio at 26-28 per cent which is better than other North Eastern states.
Replying to a series of issues raised by the Opposition during the no-confidence motion, Sangma said many states of the North East have their debt-to-GSDP ratio at over 40 per cent.
Slamming NPP MLA James Sangma for only talking about the financial crisis in the State, Sangma said Meghalaya has never been free from financial constraints. He added that even the Central government faced financial constraints which forced them to make budgetary cuts from several departments.
“How many times in the past has the State resorted to overdraft?” he questioned the Opposition.
Talking about the NGT ban on coal mining and the alleged delay in finalization of the State mining plan, Sangma informed that based on the directive of the National Green Tribunal, a combined meeting of the Ministries of Coal and Environment & Forest and the State government was held to finalize the State plan, the final meeting for which was held on September 5. He added that the North East Regional Institute of Education (NERIE) had conducted field visits in the State.
According to Sangma, the Ministry of Environment & Forest had submitted its report to the NGT on September 2.
He stated that the State government was working on the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act but the Parliament amended the Act last year following which the State had to also tailor its Act accordingly.
About the poor work culture and favouritism in the State, Sangma said favoritism is not shown by politicians only but that officers too indulged in it. He revealed that in one of the offices of the State government an officer did not communicate to the government about a particular recruitment for 20 years, and adding that officers continue to recruit their relatives.
About the law and order situation and crimes against women and children in the State, the chief minister said that in 2015, 167 cases of crimes against children were disposed of out of which 138 cases were charge sheeted. Out of 35 rape cases, charge sheets were filed in 30 cases.
Giving details about the cases against children, he said that in 2014, 76 cases under POCSO were disposed of and 74 cases were charge sheeted.
He further said the service rules for the Directorate of Prosecution were recently approved by the cabinet after which the recruitment process was initiated.
Speaking about the IBDLP, the chief minister said it is a connecting link between the government and the people and added that the government would soon open entrepreneurship centres in rural areas of the State.
The chief minister also informed that the State government has initiated a programme of upgrading major district roads. Under the programme, the State government has sanctioned Rs 447 crore in the last four years.
He also expressed concern over the growing instances of traffic jams in the city and called for making proper embarkation and disembarkation zones in the city stating that taxis and buses stops anywhere they like.
He also said that the PWD (Road) does not consult the Shillong police and mark their own embarkation and disembarkation zones. “Such measures are required to be taken after due consultation,” he added.
