The Northeast Today: Meghalaya: Wednesday, June 06, 2018.
In yet
another shocker, the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has again
under scanner for its alleged corruption practices.
After the
ghost bills’ episode, the GHADC is now being targeted by social organisations
for providing falsified information under RTI.
The tourism
department of the council has provided falsified information under RTI, the
matter, of which came to light after Achik Youth Council (AYC) sought a meeting
with the CEM of the NPP led EC, Dipul Marak to seek answers, yesterday.
What is even
more shocking is that the contractors, who were supposed to have done the job
and under whom the projects stood, were not even aware of what had transpired
and had no knowledge of the bills. To top it all, the work order was done
towards the first week of December, sanction for the project given in the
second week and work shown as completed and money withdrawn in the third week
of December.
“They
completed projects in 4 days! Some of these projects are worth Rs 18 lakhs and
they finished it in 4 days! Must have been helped by God along the way,”
Maxbirth G Momin, the general secretary of AYC.
Incidentally,
the AYC had filed an RTI seeking information on projects taken up by GHADC
under its own funds for the month of December from the tourism department while
also filing another one with the finance department for confirmation.
“Tourism
replied that projects were not sanctioned for the month of December and as such
had not started yet. However, the finance department RTI showed projects worth
over Rs 2 crores were sanctioned and the money withdrawn. When we investigated,
we found almost nothing on the ground and the entire amount withdrawn,”
remarked AYC convener, Dardy GC Marak.
“Not only
that. They have withdrawn money for projects that were not even in the list of
projects given to us. Seems they don’t even cross verify their own facts before
giving. These shameless people are looting the entire Garo Hills through sham
contracts, sham bills and more. Everything about them is just a sham,” added
Priyam Ch Sangma, another AYC activist.
The NGO met
the CEM of GHADC yesterday where they submitted a complaint on the matter and
sought stringent punishment for the people behind the scam.
“The CEM has
stated that the matter would be taken up in the EC meeting this Friday after
which action would be taken. We are hoping for exemplary action against those
people involved. Imagine this is just one month and one department, so you can
understand the extent of the corruption in GHADC,” added Maxbirth.
A contractor,
whose name appeared on the list of projects, has denied any knowledge of the
project he was supposed to undertake.
“I had no
clue on what happened and only came to know after the NGO informed me on the
subject. I had submitted my documents in the hope of getting projects to do but
never knew that they would submit my name for ghost projects and withdraw money
in my name. This is shameful,” said the contractor who sought anonymity.
“All
sanctions were made in cash and submitted to the UDAs for distribution. In fact
some of the mid level officers even went to the extent of saying that they had
been ordered to sign and had no other option. This is criminal offence and
comes when the GHADC has not been able to pay over 16 months of salary to
employees,” said Dardy.
This,
however, is not the first time that the GHADC has lied under RTI. Earlier too
when the GHADC was asked for the total amount of money received, it lied that
it had only got Rs 48 crores, whereas through RTI again it was found that the
forest department itself had shown earnings of over Rs 64 crores!
“They are
playing with the lives of employees. The Council’s sources itself is enough to
pay the salaries of the staff but they won’t do that. They take the money for
themselves and leave everyone crying,” said Maxbirth.