Shillong, June 18: The Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) on Tuesday said the detailed project report (DPR) for the renovation of the Pinewood Hotel is still under preparation.
MTDC Chairman Sanbor Shullai said once the DPR is prepared, a tender will be floated in an “open and transparent manner”.
“I hope this clarification will put to rest this issue,” he said in a clarification.
He also said that the All Meghalaya Contractors and Suppliers Association expressed satisfaction after meeting the MTDC Director Cyril V Diengdoh on Friday. He said it was clarified to them that the tender will be called by the Tourism department after the DPR is approved by the government. He said a copy of the tender will be subsequently given to the association for their participation.
Shullai further stated that any further allegation against the department or any individual should be in black and white. He cautioned that verbal allegation will amount to defamation as it hampers the corporation’s image.
Meanwhile, he said a joint inspection of the Pinewood Hotel was conducted by the Tourism Minister and the Chairman and Board of Directors of MTDC on May 30. He said this showed the coordination and cooperation between the Tourism department and the MTDC.
“During the joint inspection, only five members of the board were present. It was very clear that only dismantling work has been undertaken by the department,” Shullai said.
He said the department had issued a statement stating that the dismantling work was undertaken with an aim to check the stability and the condition of the existing wooden structure and determine the detailed scope of work.
According to him, the department has always been supportive to the MTDC. He acknowledged the support and cooperation the corporation received from the state government through the department.
Shullai said the activities of the corporation and any important developments are always brought to the notice of the Board of Directors of the corporation by its MD during board meetings which are held once in three months as per the Companies Act.
HYC demands inquiry into renovation work
Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) president Roy Kupar Synrem on Tuesday said the authority concerned should be transparent in the allotment process and must not favour any person or company as it creates doubt in the minds of the public.
“We find it funny that the people running the affairs of the MTDC or the Tourism department and are concerned about Pinewood Hotel are feigning ignorance of the matter and took a U-turn only after the matter was brought to light. Had it not been so, then they would not have even raised a question on the whole issue,” he said.
Demanding a probe into who authorised the contractor to carry out the work without following the due process, he said if the MTDC or the department concerned did not approve it, then the person or persons responsible should be taken to task in such a case.
