SHILLONG: Congress party functionaries, MDCs and those who support the government dominate the political appointees of the MUA-II government, according to the latest list.
The status of these nearly 90 appointees ranges from categories AA, A+ to C, and the government has incurred expenditure of crores of rupees on these personalities over the last four years.
As per the list available with The Shillong Times, there are establishments headed by political appointees which hardly had any meetings to chalk out any action plan to help in the functioning of the government.
Moreover, the Meghalaya State Planning Board headed by former chief minister SC Marak, which has many political appointees, did not have many meetings in the past.
More panels, less results
Majority of the councils and corporations formed by the State Government to accommodate the party functionaries and defeated politicians remained dormant.
They include Meghalaya Economic Development Council, Meghalaya Resource and Employment Generation Council, State Consumer Protection Council, State Level Public Grievances Committee, Meghalaya Commission on Resource Mobilization, Meghalaya State Development Reforms Commission, Forest Development Corporation of Meghalaya Limited, State Task Force for Resource Mobilisation, Economic Development Society of Meghalaya under Forest and Environment department and Meghalaya State Law Commission, among others.
Meghalaya Khadi and Village Industries Board, Meghalaya State Social Welfare Board, Meghalaya State Health Advisory Board, Meghalaya Commercial Crops Development Board and Meghalaya State Housing Board had also nothing much to contribute.
Among the corporations headed by politicians are Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation, Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation, Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation, Meghalaya Government Construction Corporation Limited, Meghalaya Cherra Cement Limited, Meghalaya Transport Corporation and Meghalaya Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited, which are also yet to achieve the desired result.
There are also many committees formed by the government to accommodate certain persons close to the ruling party. The State Government Programme Implementation and Monitoring Committee headed by former Chief Minister DD Lapang is one such example.
Lapang is also holding another post as chief adviser to the Government of Meghalaya with category A+ status.
NCP legislator Sanbor Shullai also heads Meghalaya Government Construction Corporation Limited besides being the co-chairman of the Meghalaya State Planning Board.
Congress functionaries who are part of Meghalaya Resource and Employment Generation Council include Manbor S Warjri, Szarita Laitphlang, Congress MDCs PT Sawkmie and Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang.
Among the almost defunct agencies created by the government include Meghalaya Non Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency and Meghalaya Fish Farmers Development Agency.
