By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 17: Tura MDC and state BJP vice-president Bernard N Marak on Sunday alleged duplication and irregularities in several projects funded under the Agreed Text for Settlement (ATS). The claims follow inspections conducted by the Centre Level Monitoring Committee in Garo Hills this week.
Marak noted discrepancies in the museum project during inspections of the Tribal Research Institute and the Art and Culture Centre. He claimed the original proposal for the Art and Culture Centre was slated for Dakopgre but was shifted to Chidekgre and built on council land over an existing museum.
According to Marak, although construction is nearly 90 per cent complete, the project has not been handed over by the contractor or council authorities. Alleging the project had “practically disappeared” from its original site, he called for a central investigation or court intervention.
The BJP leader further stated that work on several stalled projects—including Baljek Airport, Ampati Engineering College, and a 300-bed health complex—is expected to resume in the coming weeks. He noted that the Centre had sanctioned significant funds to the Autonomous District Councils and the state government under the ATS framework for healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The projects were sanctioned following the 2014 agreement with the ANVC and ANVC-B. Monitoring meetings, typically held every six months, only resumed last September after being disrupted by the pandemic.
Marak said the recent inspections in West and South West Garo Hills revealed abandoned projects and
substandard workmanship alongside completed works. Signatories are now seeking additional funding to revive stalled projects and have requested probes into alleged irregularities. A final report will be submitted to the Union Home Ministry after inspections in the remaining districts are completed.
