SHILLONG, May 17: Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma on Tuesday slammed the state government over alleged shoddy construction in different ongoing projects and said compromising on quality is a crime.
His remarks were in the context of the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Mawiong, Dalu road and other infrastructure projects such as bridges which developed damage.
Sangma alleged the government tried its best to cripple the Lokayukta. He said when the Lokayukta wanted to move ahead following receipt of complaints about irregularities, the government allegedly tried to scuttle the process.
“Didn’t the government scuttle the exercise? For whose interest the attempts of Lokayukta were scuttled?” he asked.
Stating that the law-breakers will get encouraged if the government does not create the fear for law, he said the government had in 2017 come up with the Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act which mandated social audits across 21 schemes and 11 departments.
“After 2018, did you find any attempt by this government to carry forward this Act which could have created a deterrent for even those who intend to engage in irregularities?” the former Chief Minister said.
He said the government wanted to help some businessmen who had evil intent and this is the reason why it did not carry forward the Act. He questioned as to why the government put the Act in the cold storage.
Sangma also slammed the government over alleged poor quality infrastructure being built in the state.
“They (government) deviated from specifications. Who allowed this deviation? Who are those responsible? Will the government allow them to go scot-free?” he asked.
Ampareen to meet CM on ISBT ‘lapse’
Meanwhile, suspended Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh said she has plans to meet Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Transport Minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare urging them to address the issues concerning the ISBT.
Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh lamented that there have been leakages in the ceiling and cracks on the walls of the ISBT building.
She contended that the functioning of the ISBT is crucial as the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) in Police Bazar will soon stop operations.
Stating that she has not yet visited the ISBT in Mawiong, the suspended Congress MLA said she was unaware whether the damages are a result of construction error.
Reacting to people’s complaints on transportation, Lyngdoh said, “I had told Transport Minister (Dasakhiatbha Lamare) that the public should not face this inconvenience. If you do not have specific slabs of transportation fees for people to be transported from the ISBT to the city, there is going to be manipulation on the transportation charges.”