SHILLONG, May 26: All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) leader Mukul Sangma on Thursday claimed that he had known all along that the independent inquiry committee headed by Justice (retd) RN Mishra to probe the irregularities in the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) and the Power department would not be able to unearth the truth due to its non-specific “term of reference”.
Reacting to the statement of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma that the inquiry committee did not find anything wrong in terms of procurement by the MeECL, the Opposition leader said, “We are yet to see the report or recommendations of the inquiry committee.”
The term of reference of the committee was to inquire into record findings and make recommendations concerning the procurement, aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses, human resources management aspects of the functioning of MeECL and its three subsidiary companies – Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Ltd (MePGCL), Meghalaya Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (MePTCL) and Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (MePDCL).
Speaking about the term of reference, Mukul said it should have been specific so as to unearth the actual truth.
“The inquiry has to be specific on any instance of alleged irregularities or corruption. I had always maintained that it has to be specific,” the former chief minister said.
The inquiry committee, which was constituted on July 29 last year, was handed over to the chief minister in New Delhi on March 29.
“The committee after looking into relevant records, visiting MeECL offices and holding interaction meetings with its staff has come up with a report on all aspects referred to the committee by the Government of Meghalaya. A copy of the report is enclosed,” the chairman of the committee wrote in the forwarding letter addressed to the CM.
