From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH, Dec 29: The Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) central body on Wednesday extended its full support to the Khasi Students Union North Khasi Hills District (KSU-NKHD) on the demand for a magisterial inquiry into Jal Jeevan Mission’s implementation from the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi district. The federation went vocal on the matter after the alleged irregularities in implementation of the centrally sponsored scheme were detected in Ri-Bhoi district and the state as whole.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Wednesday, RBYF publicity secretary, Wanpher S Wahlang, said that the Federation is deeply angered on the alleged supplying of substandard pipes by Jindal India Limited meant for implementation of JJM scheme not just in Ri-Bhoi alone, but in the whole state, while stating the federation has received information that the said company had supplied more than hundreds of truck-load of such substandard pipes in Meghalaya.
“As an organisation which looks after the welfare of the people, we don’t want such kind of company to mislead and fool us by supplying substandard pipes which is indeed a huge loss to the beneficiaries as the pipes which are meant to last for 20-30 years, will only last for a year or two,” Wahlang said, while alleging that there must have been involvement from the government as the company alone will not dare to do such a thing without their knowledge.
Wahlang, therefore, said that the Federation fully supports the KSU-NKHD for a CBI inquiry into the matter to unearth the alleged multi-crore scam in implementing the JJM scheme in the state, even as he added that the government should not hesitate for a CBI inquiry, if they are clean.
He further said that the Federation will not sit idle on the issue and will keep a watchful eye from now with regard to the implementation of the JJM scheme for the benefit of the people at large and that if the Federation finds other irregularities in the near future, a befitting action will be taken against the erring company, be it through legal means or other stern actions as well.
It may be mentioned that in recent weeks, members of the KSU-NKHD while conducting a surprise inspection at the office of the Executive Engineer of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Umsning Sub Division, had detected a truck-load of substandard pipes being supplied by the Kolkata-based company, Jindal India Limited.
Notably, the Union had also written a petition to the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi district demanding a magisterial inquiry into the matter and that if the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi did not do anything, the Union will not hesitate to push for a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to unearth the alleged scam in supply of substandard JJM pipes in Ri-Bhoi district as well as the state.