By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 24: Leader of the Opposition, Mukul M. Sangma, has sought answers from Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for chairing the High-Powered Committee (HPC) of the Gar Hills Autonomous District Council at a time when Rs 100.71 crore in central assistance was allegedly misappropriated.
The amount, released in 2015-16 as the Centre’s first-ever special grant for autonomous district councils, was intended for welfare and developmental programmes in the Garo Hills.
Mukul Sangma stated that the grant was routed to the GHADC during his tenure as the Chief Minister, but serious irregularities came to light after the money reached the council.
He pointed out that civil society groups reportedly found evidence of large-scale misuse in the GHADC from information obtained through RTI applications. He said the revelations led them to seek judicial intervention, and the case is pending before the Lokayukta.
“Utilisation certificates were never properly furnished to the government of India, stalling subsequent disbursals,” he said.
The Leader of the Opposition argued that the fallout was crippling. “Had the initial Rs 100 crore been accounted for, it could have triggered incremental annual releases, eventually crossing Rs 300 crore to strengthen the councils. Instead, the flow of central assistance was disrupted,” he said.
He also highlighted that at the time, the GHADC was under an NPP-led Executive Committee, and the council had created an HPC with extraordinary authority over developmental decisions. Crucially, Conrad Sangma, then not yet the CM of Meghalaya, was its chair.
The Leader of Opposition insisted that Conrad Sangma needs to explain how the Rs 100.71 crore was used, whether financial norms were observed, and why cases linked to the alleged irregularities remain unresolved before the Lokayukta.
He stressed that only a decisive conclusion can restore credibility to the effort of securing central funds for district councils, which has otherwise been derailed since the controversy.