By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 22: Congress MP Saleng A. Sangma has demanded an inquiry into the utilisation of funds by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) even as he lambasted the state government for the alleged lack of clarity on its decision to pay the salaries of Autonomous District Council (ADC) employees from November.
Speaking to media persons on Monday, he claimed that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had confused the public on the matter and is now repeatedly giving clarifications.
Referring to the government’s move to seek Rs 664 crore from the Centre for the GHADC under the relevant Agreed Text for Settlement, Saleng said, “There seems to be a big confusion as the chief minister is talking about giving money for ADCs and at the same time, seeking funds from the Union government.”
He pointed out that the state government is also seeking a one-time grant of Rs 252 crore from the Centre due to the drastic reduction in the council’s revenue, resulting in its inability to meet the staff salary obligations.
The Tura MP said the government has submitted DPRs of Rs 104.34 crore for the installation of solar streetlights, development of rural markets, and promotion of fruit cultivation and value addition through primary processing.
Suspecting foul play, Saleng questioned how the council issued work orders, worth Rs 19 crore and Rs 24 crore, to Goldfinch Techlux Pvt Ltd and Giga Infrastructure respectively in July last year.
“If these are fake orders, why the district council and the Meghalaya government did not file an FIR for forgery?” he asked and demanded an inquiry into the overall fund utilisation by the GHADC.
Stating that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has already has approved the projects on forest-related activities with an outlay of Rs 308,14,27,382, he asked the state government to come clean on whether it plans to pay the salaries of ADCs through the Central funds which have been allotted for development.
Earlier, the chief minister had stated that the widely circulated claim about the Centre releasing Rs 250 crore to the GHADC under the text agreement with the A’chik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) is incorrect. He stressed that the state has not received any funds so far, nor has the Centre responded to the request.
He explained that a letter sent by the State Planning Department to the Centre was merely a formal request for assistance under the ANVC text agreement. Such requests, he noted, are routine and regularly submitted to the Centre to secure support for developmental initiatives for the GHADC.
