SHILLONG: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has observed that the Meghalaya Transport Department has not made any effort to make the Baljek Airport in West Garo Hills District operational even though more than nine years have passed since completion of the original project.
The CAG report stated no additional funds had been sanctioned by the state government for upgradation of the airport while the additional land, acquired for expansion of the airport had also not been handed over to the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
The Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills had noted (May 2013) in the status report on the airport that the buildings were getting damaged owing to non-maintenance since the airport had been lying unutilized.
It added that further delay in project implementation would result in added increase in the cost of upgradation.
The case was reported to the Transport Department between July 2016 and July 2017 and reminded in August 2017 and January 2018 and the reply has not been received.
Payment of electricity bills on an idle project
Further, the report stated, between October 2008 and July 2015, State Electricity Corporation raised electricity bills amounting to Rs 74.02 lakh in respect of Baljek Airport against which the Commissioner of Transport made the payment of Rs 43.50 lakh.
According to the CAG, the department continues to incur expenditure on payment of electricity bills for the non-operational airport while the payment of electricity bills over the years on an idle project had resulted in unfruitful expenditure amounting to Rs 43.50 lakh along with additional liability of Rs 30.52 lakh yet to be paid.
