NONGPOH, Dec 16: A day after bringing to the fore the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme in Meghalaya, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), North Khasi Hills District, have now petitioned Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner, RM Kurbah, for a magisterial probe.
On Wednesday, the KSU leaders had conducted a surprise inspection at the office of the Executive Engineer of Public Health Engineering (PHE) department, Umsning Sub-Division, only to discern severe loopholes in the implementation of the central scheme in the state.
However, on Thursday, the KSU submitted a memorandum to Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner, through the Additional Deputy Commissioner, FM Lakiang, seeking a magisterial inquiry into the alleged substandard GI pipes supplied by the Kolkata-based firm, Jindal (India) Limited.
In the memorandum, the KSU informed that during the inspection, it was found out that the 15 mm GI pipes that were supplied by Jindal (India) Limited were lightweight as opposed to the government-prescribed standard weight.
After submitting the memorandum, KSU NKHD president, Ferdynald Kharkamni, while speaking to the media persons, said that the inspection was conducted in the wake of the Union receiving several complaints and in a bid to unearth the involvement of high-ranking officials into the alleged multi-crore scam.
He also expressed surprise as to why the private firm, Dr Amin Controllers Private Limited, notified by the Meghalaya government to conduct third party inspection of the said GI pipes, did not perform its duty and instead just signed the quality certificate without physically verifying the quality of the GI pipes being supplied to the state.
He also argued that the supply of such substandard GI pipes is a waste of public money and will create huge losses for the beneficiaries.
“Normally, the lifespan of the GI pipes is ten years, but due to the poor quality, it will only last for one or two years, and the people at large will be at loss,” Kharkamni said.
Meanwhile, the KSU president has also warned that if the appeal for a magisterial inquiry into the alleged anomalies is unheeded, they will be coerced into knocking on the doors of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Lokayukta.
