SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) filed a complaint to the State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) to initiate proceedings against the PIO of the office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Meghalaya for incomplete information in the reply to RTI.
Addressing a Press conference on Wednesday, the general secretary of HYC, Roy Kupar Synrem said the organisation filed an RTI at the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Meghalaya on August 14, 2018.
Roy informed that the PIO in the reply to queries on where the money is deposited, how the money is utilised by the government, the PIO said, “not available”.
He pointed to a condition in the Supreme Court’s order that Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Limited shall deposit a sum of Rs.55 crores with interest at the rate of 9% per annum from April 1, 2007 till the date of payment.
“We ask the PCCF on whether the Lafarge deposited the money as per the direction of Supreme Court. In reply, the PIO informed that Lafarge on July 14, 2010 deposited Rs 72, 66, 48, 893,” he added.
The money deposited by Lafarge shall be utilized as per the guidelines of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
As for the utilization of money by Lafarge, he said, “We don’t know and we are not clear whether the state government has utilized the money or not. The money is already deposited since 2010.”