SHILLONG: An RTI activist wrote to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and HoFF on the reconstruction of Tourist lodge and other amenities at Tura Peak.
The activist, Wilver Danggo, has requested the officer to institute an inquiry initiated against two officers, PR Marak and Rupankar Marak.
Danggo said the infrastructure so erected is currently in a dilapidated condition and gives the impression of wastage of public money.
The RTI reply provided by the Public Information Officer, Sachin Gavade, IFS, said the amount sanctioned for the same was Rs 12,23,459.
He said that from the enclosures provided by the PIO, it is seen that a brief note was provided by the then DFO of the Division, PR Marak, MFS (currently an IFS).
In the note, so referred, the officer had presented a practical perspective on how the building was gradually abandoned while acknowledging its utility from the tourism point of view. A proposal was accordingly submitted by him for reconstruction of the tourist lodge and other amenities.
The works were implemented by RK Marak, MFS, also the then Assistant Conservator of Forests, and a report was submitted by him to the Deputy Commissioner and Chairman, DRDA, West Garo Hills, Tura as to the circumstances that acted as deterrence to the completion of the aforesaid works.
Danggo said the estimate for the works was duly signed by the then DFO, PR Marak, with 30 per cent addition to the estimated cost to meet the escalation and carriage of materials. However, the physical target was not met.
He said Marak, who was a senior Meghalaya Forest Service Cadre officer at the time of signing the estimate, with a large chunk of his service career having been spent in Garo Hills, should have properly researched the carriage cost of materials from Tura town to Tura Peak, inter alia, before taking up the matter.
On the other hand, RK Marak, the then ACF has clearly submitted that it was because of exorbitant carriage cost that he was unable to ensure completion of the works.
“It goes without saying that the lack of ground work together with the proper assessment of the costs led to the partial completion of the works resulting in wastage of public money. It grossly reflects the lack of seriousness and professionalism on the part of the officers concerned,” Danggo said.
He also said the carriage cost of materials from Tura Town to Tura Peak could have been easily known by asking any local labour here and PR Marak should have utilised the man power at his disposal in knowing the carriage cost before signing the Detail Estimate.
Danggo argued that if proper execution of works was not possible with the said amount, Marak should not have proceeded with its utilisation.
He becomes equally accountable to the people of Garo Hills and to the state in the same degree as RK Marak, MFS for misappropriation of fund.
Danggo accused PR Marak and RK Marak for setting a bad precedent for other subordinate officers of the department arguing that the subordinates would be tempted to cite in future that due to increase in price and carriage cost of materials, they could not complete government works sanctioned by the department.
Danggo said PR Marak and Rupankar Marak, MFS owe an explanation to the people of the State with regard to the reasons that prevented them to carry out the ground works properly before submitting the Detail Estimate.
