Thursday, April 3, 2025

Meghalaya awaits anti-graft unit

Date:

Share post:

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, Oct 6: Corruption-heavy Meghalaya is yet to have any anti-graft unit like the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in neighbouring Assam.
The Assam directorate traps government officers, including police personnel, accepting bribes almost every day.
Neither the Meghalaya government nor the politicians have made any move to set up an anti-corruption unit that takes swift action based on complaints from the people.
West Bengal, too, has an anti-corruption branch.
In Meghalaya, corruption cases are usually filed with the police or occasionally with the Lokayukta while the chief secretary acts as the state vigilance commissioner.
A senior official chose to remain silent when asked if there are any plans to constitute an anti-corruption branch in the state.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah said Meghalaya was the most corrupt state.
Corruption has remained one of the most debated topics in the state.
Cases of scams have frequently been reported in the state.
From the vehicle ‘scam’ and rice ‘scam’ to Saubhagya scheme irregularities, the state is mired in allegations of graft.
Only recently, the Comptroller and Auditor General, in its report tabled in the Assembly, pointed out that despite an advisory from the Cabinet secretary, the MePDCL took an injudicious decision for awarding works under the Saubhagya scheme to contractors at their quoted rates resulting in avoidable expenditure of Rs 156 crore.

Related articles

Trump unveils tariffs

Washington, April 2: President Donald Trump announced plans for sweeping tariffs Wednesday, saying "our country has been looted,...

SC quashes HC order against The Shillong Times

NEW DELHI, April 2: The Supreme Court of India has quashed a contempt proceeding against The Shillong Times...

Kharlukhi raps Biren for remarks on PA Sangma

SHILLONG, April 2: Former NPP state president and Rajya Sabha MP WR Kharlukhi on Wednesday criticised former Manipur...

New snakehead species of fish found in Chokpot

SHILLONG, March 2: Meghalaya has once again gained recognition in the scientific community with the discovery of a...