GUWAHATI, Dec 19: The Assam Congress on Friday levelled serious allegations of financial mismanagement and large-scale corruption in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), demanding an independent, high-level investigation into its functioning.
Addressing mediapersons in Diphu, district media chairperson Charisma Rongpipi and APCC media spokesperson Mohan Rongpi claimed that approximately Rs 10,000 crore allocated to the KAAC for development between the financial years 2016-17 and 2025-26 has failed to yield visible development on the ground for the people of Karbi Anglong.
The leaders alleged that corruption within the KAAC has reached “alarming levels”, claiming that while contractors’ dues pile up annually, payments are being selectively cleared for a few favoured firms.
It was further alleged that several infrastructure work, including road projects, have been issued overlapping work orders under different schemes – a tactic purportedly used to siphon off public funds.
The Congress leaders also accused the KAAC of awarding new projects to contractors from outside Karbi Anglong, sidelining local contractors and depriving local youth of employment. The work, they alleged, was grossly overestimated, causing massive financial losses to the council.
Criticising the council’s administration, the Congress leaders said the KAAC was being run like a private company rather than a constitutional autonomous body.
Expressing grave concern, Mohan Rongpi warned, “KAAC is being completely sold out, with the land and natural resources of Karbi Anglong being handed over to corporates, threatening the rights and future of indigenous communities.”
The party leaders dared the Assam chief minister to order an independent probe into the role of the KAAC chief executive member (CEM) and the overall functioning of the council.
They warned that failure to do so would lead them to hold the chief minister equally accountable as a partner in the alleged corruption.
