Shella Dorbar asks government to release Lafarge funds

SHILLONG: The secretary of Shella Dorbar, Roy Kupar Synrem, submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma apprising him about the delay regarding the release of funds deposited by Lafarge meant for Shella for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.
In the memorandum, Synrem stated that the delay is due to the fact that the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Committee headed by the chief secretary did not release the funds for the period and failed to prepare the annual plan for 2019-2020.
“We fail to understand the reasons as to why the SPV Committee is not releasing the funds or approved budgets for these periods when the amount of funds which have been deposited by Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt. Ltd. (LUMPL) since 2010-11 till 2017-18 is to the tune of Rs 162,54,02,700. On top of that, this fund is being kept in interest bearing accounts and as per records it is shown that an amount of Rs 38,36,96,474 has been earned as interest from the principal amount upto March 31, 2018,” the memorandum said.
He said that the SPV Committee has till date released only 62,86,22,000 from the principal amount for various projects to the affected areas through the SPV Society.
As of March 31, 2018, Rs 99,67,80,700 is still lying unspent from the principal amount deposited by LUMPL. Synrem said that it is a complete violation of the Supreme Court’s order which has mandated that the money should be used for the welfare of the people in the affected area and not for keeping the same in any interest bearing accounts or for any other purposes.
Synrem said that a number of important and vital projects and proposals for the village such as water supply, infrastructure development, school buildings, proposal for eco-tourism promotion and development, waste management and assistance to students pursuing higher studies outside the state are all pending with the SPV Society on account of the non-availability of funds and non-preparation of the annual plan for 2019-2020.
He observed that in keeping with the spirit of the Supreme Court’s judgment and in an effort to generate income to elevate the livelihoods of the people of the affected areas, necessary direction must be given from the CM to the departments concerned.
He said that the SPV Committee should be directed to immediately release the sanctioned funds for the last Annual Work Plan of 2017-2018 which has been only partially implemented and for 2018-2019 which was approved during the SPV board of directors’ meeting and general body.