SHILLONG, Sep 21: The state government has decided to send copies of the MeECL and rice scam inquiry reports to all the MLAs.
“Some members raised this during the autumn session and wanted the copies. We have decided to send both the MeECL and Social Welfare reports to all the MLAs. The Political department will do the needful,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Wednesday.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and a few other members had asked the state government to table the inquiry report of the MeECL and rice scams during the recently-concluded autumn session.
Pointing out that two issues need to be understood, Tynsong said: “The constitution of a judicial inquiry commission is guided by the Commission Act of the central government and the report of a judicial inquiry committee is up to the state government. We do not have to introduce or lay it in the House (Assembly).”
The inquiry commission on power, which was headed by Justice (retired) RN Mishra of the Allahabad High Court, submitted its report to the government in March this year.
The committee was assigned to look into records and make recommendations concerning the functioning of the MeECL and its three subsidiary companies – Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Ltd, Meghalaya Power Transmission Corporation Ltd and Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Ltd.
The probe covered the period from April 1, 2010, to March 31, 2021.
Even the independent probe into the alleged rice scam was submitted to the state government but the findings of the report are yet to be made public.
Tynsong, who also holds the Power portfolio, said the state government is examining all the points raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in its report for taking corrective measures.
He said MeECL has been incurring losses since the day it started functioning as the Meghalaya State Electricity Board (MeSEB).
“Inside the House, I replied we are spending not less than Rs 150 crore but earning only Rs 75 crore monthly. So, you understand the loss is huge,” Tynsong said, referring to the losses pointed out in the CAG report.
