SHILLONG: Power Minister James Sangma on Wednesday ruled out any irregularity in the appointment of skilled multi-tasking assistants in the MeECL as alleged by the Opposition Congress saying if required, the matter would be investigated.
The Congress had alleged that 128 persons were appointed as skilled multi-tasking assistants in the MeECL without issuing any advertisement.
Reacting to a query about the allegation, Sangma said that if necessary, the government would conduct inquiry into anything, but conducting inquiries just for the sake of it is not prudent and wastage of time and resources.
“If the situation warrants an inquiry, we will carry out an inquiry,” Sangma said.
He said that Congress MLAs were entitled to their opinion but as far as he knew, nothing irregular has taken place.
The Congress had demanded an independent inquiry, preferably by the CBI, into the appointment of 128 people as skilled multi-tasking assistants on contractual basis without advertising the vacancies for the posts, which, the party said, was a violation of the job reservation policy of the state.
Spokesperson, Zenith Sangma, had also alleged that people from only among Khasis were appointed which defeats the very spirit of the job reservation policy. Asked about the non-functional machines of the hydro power projects, which is costing the state lakhs of rupees every day, the minister said that these things tend to happen and it is unfortunate.
Stating that the government is taking corrective steps, Sangma said that the department is looking at ways and means to put in a mechanism to nip such problems in the bud.