SHILLONG, Aug 19: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Friday said a partial study of the report submitted after a probe into the alleged irregularities in the state’s power sector did not indicate “anything serious”.
He also said Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma was free to seek the intervention of anyone in the allegations relating to the smart meters project.
“The state government instituted an inquiry by a retired justice of the Allahabad High Court into the functioning of the Power department, including the smart meter projects. The probe report has been submitted to the government,” he said while reacting to the allegations by Sangma.
Tynsong, who holds the Power portfolio, said officials are still studying the report and from whatever they have gone through, they said the content has nothing serious.
He said the Power department would clarify all the doubts once the officials complete studying the report thoroughly.
“It is an exhaustive exercise as it is a massive report. I can say there are no serious lapses or any misuse of funds or power as has been alleged,” Tynsong said.
Stating that the report does not merit tabling in the Assembly, he said it will be in the public domain once it is uploaded on the official website of the Power department.
“People can go through the report and satisfy themselves,” he said.
Tynsong also referred to an RTI on the smart meters filed by the Hynniewtrep Youth Council.
“We had shared all the documents including the agreement and tender papers,” he said.
On Thursday, Mukul Sangma said he wrote to the Prime Minister seeking a probe by a central agency into alleged irregularities in the power sector, particularly pertaining to the installation of smart meters and the implementation of the Saubhagya scheme.
He hoped the PM would respond to his letter and institute an inquiry under the supervision of the ministries concerned. He believed this would deter such illegal activities that affect the fiscal as well as the socio-political health of the state.
