From Our Correspondent
TURA, Dec 4: The Niksamso Garo Community Organisation (NGCO) on Sunday alleged the misappropriation of a total of Rs 14.39 crore in connection with eco-tourism projects in East Garo Hills, projects, which have been shown as complete on paper but in reality abandoned with the jungle reclaiming the sites.
A total of nine such projects which were started in 2017 failed to see their completion despite the fact that they were shown as complete on paper. The projects, which were sanctioned for a total amount of Rs 14.39 crore, were slated to be completed within 18 months from the start of the construction.
The massive anomaly was unearthed following an RTI filed by the organisation with the department concerned. What is striking is that an amount of Rs 13.61 crore has already been withdrawn in the name of contractors despite only about 10-15% of the project being complete.
One such incomplete project is the Gittokgre Eco Tourism site which is unlikely to be restarted. A video of the project site taken during a visit by members of the organisation showed the incomplete building overgrown with huge trees and the undergrowth, which would render it impossible to re-start work.
In West Garo Hills (WGH), projects in Gambagre, Bolsalgre and Damalgre are also incomplete. Following the incomplete nature of these projects, a legal notice has been sent by the NGO who reviewed the status of the projects in all 9 destinations.
According to the organisation, despite the projects having been left in the current position, the total amount meant for the projects — Rs 13.61 crore has already been withdrawn.
“This is unacceptable to us as an organisation. Such deprivation of the people off the Centre’s projects is condemnable. All those responsible for the illegal act must be held accountable and brought to book,” president of the organisation, Tengrak B Marak said, while vowing to root out such corruption.
CORRIGENDUM
We apologise for the quantum of money stated to have been misappropriated in the news item that appeared on December 4, 2023, titled “Rs 1300-cr eco tourism project scam comes to light in EGH”. While the story mistakenly states that over Rs 1,300 crore has been misappropriated, the actual quantum of sanction for the nine schemes is Rs 14.39 crore from which an amount of Rs 13.61 crore has been released without work being done. We regret the error and apologise for the same.