SHILLONG: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the state is currently awaiting a report from the State Chief Secretary about the action taken against the erring officials of various departments who defaulted as per the observations of the CAG.
Talking to media persons here on Thursday after the meeting, PAC member, HM Shangpliang said that the Committee in its first meeting had summoned the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary of the Finance department to ask them about the recommendation of the committee for taking action against some of the erring officials of some of the different departments as per the CAG report
The Committee had served one month to the Chief Secretary to examine the paragraphs identified by the CAG where default was found and the Committee was awaiting a report from the Chief Secretary in this regard.
He said that the PAC was very powerful Committee and it could go to the extent of filing FIRs if it observed any malpractices or defaults
Meanwhile, the Committee on Thursday summoned Mining and Geology and PWD to seek their response on the unutilized drilling ring and a helipad worth lakhs of rupees. ‘
Chairman of the Committee, Charles Pyngrope told reporters the PAC took up an issue where drilling ring worth Rs 44.20 lakh provided by the Indian Bureaus of Mines to the department for running the drilling operations had been lying unutilized for over three years.
Apparently a machine to drill was required by the Department of Mineral Resources and through the North East Assistance Programme, the Indian Bureau of Mines provided a vehicle drilling rig to the department.
According to Pyngrope, it was observed by the department that drilling ring which was given to the department was not the one they were looking for and they accordingly wrote to the Indian Bureau of Mines either to replace it or take it back.
“From the replies of the department, it has been observed that the lapses were more on part of the Indian Bureau of Mines department,” Pyngrope said.
The Committee also took up the wasteful expenditure and construction of a helipad at Umsawli.
The PWD constructed a helipad for landing of the VVIP at Umsawli at a total expenditure of Rs 42.87 lakh but the helipad was not utilised
Member of the Committee, HM Shangpliang said that in 2006-2007, there was a proposal to lay the foundation of the IIM. At that point of time, the Union Minister of HRD was supposed to land at Umsalwi and immediately, the State Govenrment directed the PWD to construct temporary helipad without following the procedures of tendering.
“The administrative approval was given to the PWD after the work was completed and the particular helipad is no longer in existence since the IIM Shillong has constructed its administrative building in the same place,” Shangpliang said.
Another member, Zenith Sangma said that the departments have been asked to come up with an extensive report in the next meeting.