SHILLONG: Allegations of misappropriation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) funds has cropped up in respect of implementation of in two villages in Ri-Bhoi district.
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) of Raid Nongtung circle, Umsaw Mawlasnai unit and Mawlasnai Unit briefed the media on Monday about loopholes in the implementation of the scheme since October 2016, following an RTI reply received by them from the office of the Block Development Office (BDO) Umsning.
The organisation asserted development in the village took a backseat despite the huge release of funds by the office of the BDO to the village employment councils (VECs) as some schemes were not implemented while some remained incomplete.
General secretary of HYC Umsaw-Mawlasnai unit, Shemphang Masharing said the respective VECs did not respond to three letters sent by the two units for two-and-a-half years.
As per the RTI, the VEC of Umsaw Mawlasnai did not implement most of the schemes and some of the schemes were incomplete despite having received a total amount of Rs 60 lakhs from 2010-2016.
The foremost scheme is the construction of land development including protection wall (2016-17) which was sanctioned at an amount of Rs 8, 45,000 for which only one-third of the total work was completed.
He also complained that the scheme for football ground was not complete.
“The BDO has to direct the VEC of Umsaw Mawlasnai to complete the works meant under the scheme and to erect a sign board furnishing the information about the scheme,” Masharing said.
The situation VEC Mawlasnai is no different as the president of HYC Mawlasnai unit, Pynshailang Rymbai said not less than Rs 1 crore was sanctioned under MGNREGS for VEC Mawlasnai from 2010-2016 whereas the works under the scheme remain incomplete.
He said the work for leveling of playground with an amount sanctioned at Rs 9.5 lakhs had not been implemented so far, the footpath to Catholic graveyard was also constructed in a shoddy manner as within one year of its construction the road showed signs of wearing away.
The president of HYC Raid Nongtung, Hercules Suting condemned the action of the two VECs for not implementing the schemes properly.
“We will give one month time for the VECs to complete the works and if not we will be prompted to ahead with an FIR,” he said.