SHILLONG: The previous government spent over Rs 28 crore on agencies which carried out studies and consultancy services in the state.
An official note of the state government said the studies were for gathering knowledge about natural, human and infrastructural resources available in the various departments of Meghalaya.
From 2012 to 2015, under the Planning Department, the amount spent by the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) was Rs 1.87 crore.
Later, MBDA spent an additional amount of over Rs 5 crore on other consultants.
In 2015, the amount spent by the Planning Department for science and technology was Rs 32 lakh (Rs 32,02,260) for the preparation of a road map for innovation. This was the first installment paid to the Bengaluru-based consultant, Innoversant Solutions Pvt Ltd, out of the total agreed amount of Rs 1,06,74,200.
Under the Border Area Development Department, Rs 67 lakh was spent in 2014-15 on the preparation of a feasibility report, a detailed project report and other documents to assist the government in the process of bidding and selection for and supervision of establishment of passenger ropeway (cable car) at Pongtung.
Under the Commerce and Industries Department, the fee for consultancy services for preparation of a road map for industrial development in Meghalaya for 2016-17 was over Rs 97 lakh (Rs 97,17,500).
The amount spent for evaluation studies conducted under programme implementation and evaluation was Rs 32,25,000.
The fee for studies on seismic vulnerability and school earthquake safety project was Rs 22.98 lakh for 2015-16.
The amount spent on consultancy for Tura and Jowai abattoirs in 2012-13 was Rs 15.20 lakh.
In the Agriculture Department, the amount spent was Rs 19,51,543 for consultancy services for gathering knowledge of natural, human and infrastructural resources for the last five years and study by a team led by Sushil Pandey for Meghalaya State Rice Mission during 2013.
Under the Urban Affairs Department, Rs 31.81 lakh was spent from 2012-13 to 2016-17 on studies for mobility plan for Shillong city under JNNURM, preparation for slum-free city plan of action for Shillong city under the Rajiv Awas Yojana and preparation of housing-for-all plan of action for Shillong, Tura and Resubelpara under Pradhan Mantri Awaz Yojana (Urban) Housing.
The expenditure incurred by the Water Resources Department for studies and consultancy services from 2012-13 to 2016-17 was Rs 1,65,17,315.
The Forest and Environment Department incurred Rs 1,51,39,000 in 2012-13 for forest working schemes and plans and land resources and land use map prepared by the North East Space Application Centre.
Under the Power Department, the amount spent from 2011-12 to 2017-18 is over Rs 15 crore (Rs 15,39,63,878).
In this regard, the government engaged Feedback Infrastructure Services Pvt Ltd 602, Rustomjee Natraj, Western Express Highway, Andheri (E) Mumbai, Price Water House Coopers Pvt Ltd, Plot No. Y-14 Block EP, Sector V, Salt Lake, Electronic Complex, Kolkata, Power Finance Corporation Consulting Limited and Consultants India Pvt Ltd and GCE ENERGO.
Rs 9,90,000 was spent in 2014-15 under the Finance (economic affairs) Department for study on the variation in infrastructure cost due to various determinants in the North East with particular reference to Meghalaya conducted by Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati.
In 2013-14 under the Health and Family Welfare Department Rs 10 lakh was spent for study by KPMG for E-Health.
While majority of the reports are gathering dust in various departments, an official source claimed that these studies will be useful in future for planning government initiatives.
