Editor,
The report in your esteemed newspaper “Intrigues scuttle renovation of MeECL project at Mawlai” dated 20.04.2021 was conspicuous by the absence of a name. I assume it was about me, since I was the only lady director on the Board of MeECL who also happened to resign some time ago. Here therefore, is my rebuttal.
With regards to overhauling of the Mawlai Sub-station, I was accused of “opposing the new tendering process…instead batted for the local contractors and suppliers saying that their bills had to be cleared first”. The minutes of the Board meeting dated December 17, 2020 mentioned Clause 5.5.3 of the Draft Bidding Document, which says, “In case of already completed works, the erection and supply invoice amount have to be reimbursed to the Owner”. The point raised by me was that in order to avoid unnecessary legal claim on the Corporation the issue of existing contractor needs to be settled before giving the same work to another Turn-key operator. Your report added, “she wanted the local suppliers to be paid for illegal orders”. Calling it “illegal” contradicts the very incorporating of Clause 5.5.3 in the Bid Document itself. Moreover, the argument of fund lapse becomes untenable in the face of possible time-consuming litigation.
It is a fact that I was part of the Board decision held on January 31, 2020 for cancelling of all LOA/Tenders made. The objection made against the proposed Bid Documents which were presented to the Board on December 17, 2020 was that they were half-baked documents, which is not uncommon given the professionalism of those who had prepared the Bid Documents.
The newspaper report says, “It is learnt that one of the reasons for the resignation of the Independent Director was also because of this attempt by the Corporation to stake legal claim over its land.” The fact was that the agenda placed before the Board meeting on February 1, 2021 was about “Engagement of M/S NITCON Ltd. as Project Management Unit (PMU) for Monetization of Land Assets of MeECL and its Subsidiaries. I had said on record “that the issue is very sensitive and the same needs to be examined thoroughly based on the provisions of land laws applicable in Meghalaya.” I made this point since the agenda item was circulated at the meeting itself without any time to study the papers.
It is also important to ask the following questions:
Why it was offered to M/S NITCON without any prior discussion in the Board and without calling for any EoI or Tender?
Whether the firm is conversant with the nuances of land laws of the State of Meghalaya?
Whether the firm has the manpower to carry out the work without assigning to other private agencies?
It would also have been in order to take up such encroachment by the staff, with the respective Deputy Commissioners for eviction under the law. The need to engage a firm for this purpose is not tenable.
The report further mentioned, “The Power Minister called the said independent director and asked her many uncomfortable questions including failure of the management…”. Yes, the Minister had called me for a meeting on December 14, 2020. It was a meeting between the Minister and myself and no other person was present. The meeting was cordial and matters like the failure of the management was not discussed at all. The Independent Directors have no executive functions. Specific issues, be they power theft or salary delay are discussed only when the Management places them as items in the agenda for Board meetings.
Your report says, “The Director didn’t like being grilled and within a week tendered her resignation citing flimsy reasons.” I affirm that no one grilled me. Please note that my resignation took place on February 3, 2021 which is more than a month after the meeting with the Minister. I resigned as I was not happy with the manner in which the Board meetings were conducted. On the spot circulation of agenda and insufficient time given to study the papers is not how a professional organisation operates. Exceptions had become a rule. This was also contrary to laid down norms and practices under Company Law. My role as an Independent Director was in accordance with Schedule IV [Section 149(8)] Code for Independent Directors of the Ministry of Company Affairs, Government of India. One cannot give in to pressures when one knows that something is grossly wrong.
I suggest that you exercise circumspection with your sources whose game is to malign, be malicious and fabricate facts to diffuse the crisis. You will instead serve public interest better and prevent future load shedding by focussing on the popular demand for an independent inquiry into the functioning of MeECL and its subsidiaries. Do not let the debate and narrative be twisted and diverted from the real spotlight on the whole mess relating to MeECL and its subsidiaries and the whole power sector in Meghalaya.
Yours etc.,
Lumlanglin Kharkongor,
Ex-Independent Director, MeECL and subsidiaries,
India’s self inflicted tragedy
Editor,
The Prime Minister has really a thick neck to speak now on the second wave ravaging India on his latest Mann ki Baat radio talk. The state elections could have been deferred and the Kumbh mela could have been a symbolic one. All the positive results of combating the first wave have been lost. When there are restrictions on places of worship, why was the Kumbh mela given the all-clear signal? When the Tokyo Olympics 2020 could be put off by a year, why was common sense not applied?
This ‘insatiable hunger’ to rule and not govern every state in the country has placed India in an unenviable position today. The Union Cabinet and the Chief Election Commissioner are chiefly responsible for this appalling mess we find ourselves in and they should be held accountable.
The new variant that’s affecting us now was known to the Government of India late last year and yet no preparations were made to combat it. The Union Health Minister went on to boast that India had tamed the virus. Such hollow talk!
No concrete measures were taken to address the pathetic government health sector and Indians are paying a huge price for lack of foresight and poor leadership. And here in Meghalaya NEIGHRIMS is crying hoarse for all it’s cries have fallen on deaf ears. Furthermore there were no preparations whatsoever to galvanise the country to fight the second wave.
This is not leadership, but a megalomaniac government at work .
It’s unfortunate that the medical fraternity now needs to pick up the threads from scratch and to watch helplessly the terrible loss of lives due to the pandemic. Thousands of Indian citizens’ lives have been shattered and millions are in grief. It’s unfortunate that ‘India’ has squandered a huge opportunity in curtailing the damage for which we are now paying heavily.
The mainstream media has proved that it’s a bunch of limpets. What is the role of the media but to expose the failures of the powers that be! Dear God, now it’s onlyYou who can deliver us from this terrible self inflicted tragedy.
Yours etc.,
Tyrone D’Brass
Tura
A thank you note!
Editor,
Through your esteemed daily I would like to share my experiences with State Bank of India, Kenches Trace branch. We often raise complaints if things do not go our way and assume that it is the duty of the bank staff to promptly respond to our queries but we fail to appreciate them when things go well. As a client of the above bank I wish to congratulate them for being helpful towards their clients and would especially like to mention one staff in particular. Mr Sanjay, the cashier is cordial and polite with every client. In fact, I would like to place on record that Mr Sanjay has been very helpful and not only efficiently handles his share of duties but does not shy away from going beyond the call of duty to meet the needs of his clients. There has never been a time when I had to face agony and irritation from the staff. They have always tried their best to provide excellent service to their clients. I wish to thank all the staff but especially Mr Sanjay for his efficiency and above all his eagerness to provide the best of service. We need more efficient staff like him for an easy and smooth transaction every time we visit the bank.
Yours etc.,
Lucky Star Shangpliang,
Shillong -4