Stormy start to GHADC session
TURA: The three-day winter session of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council literally began with a damper on Monday as the opposition Congress failed to put the NPP-led ruling alliance on the mat over allegations of central fund mismanagement as the latter took cover over the matter being ‘Sub-judice’ in the High Court.
The much anticipated council session had expected to be a stormy affair after the NPP-GNC-BJP alliance was accused of mishandling and mismanaging central funds to the tune of Rs 100.71 crore as allegations of corruption began to surface.
Opposition members were unable to cut any ice on the matter as far as the question hour was concerned as the ruling alliance repeatedly pointed to the issue being ‘Sub-judice’.
Independent MDC from Tura, Rupert M Sangma, Independent MDC Mark Goera B Marak and JD Sangma had each tried to seek answers from the ruling Garo Hills Progressive Alliance on the matter of release and utilization of the central funds.
Rupert Sangma had sought an answer from the Chief Executive Member (CEM) Denang T Sangma as to the total amount of the central funds withdrawn by contractors, remaining balance and whether a separate account had been opened.
He also sought a reply to the proposal for a project estimated at Rs 58,25,800 for IEC under the special assistance fund.
“Who has proposed the project and to whom has it been allotted? When and how and in which newspaper was the tender floated and what was the total amount withdrawn under this project?” questioned the Tura MDC.
The terse reply by the CEM was, “Since the case relating to Special Assistance Central Plan Scheme is pending in the Honourable High Court, the matter is Sub Judice.”
Independent MDC Mark Goera B Marak had questioned as to why the CEM denied to circular copies of approved projects under the central funding to all MDCs as was previously agreed upon while MDC JD Sangma demanded answers to reports that 60 percent of the total bill had already been withdrawn by contractors for starting of the projects.
Neither of them was able to obtain any answers relating to the central funds allotment to the GHADC.
However, replies were given to questions on other topics including the status on the main water tank of GHADC at Tura Government College that provides drinking water to the entire Hawakhana locality.
Since the tank had long needed to be replaced, BJP MDC Bhupendra Hajong who holds the water works portfolio informed that demolition of the old storage tank was currently underway for the construction of a new one and the dismantling process was expected to be completed by the first week of December.
Rupert Sangma, Tura MDC, had sought a reply on the total revenue generated annually from the new shopping complex of GHADC at Tura bazaar which happens to have dozens of rooms for leasing out.
It was informed by W Ch Marak, Land and Revenue EM that a sum of Rs 7,80,600 was the annual revenue generated.