SHILLONG:
Tura MDC Bernard N Marak has asked Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to direct the NPP-led executive committee in the GHADC to stop treating the BJP as opposition and to ensure equal distribution of the tied and untied grants in constituencies which are represented by non-NPP MDCs.
In a letter to the chief minister on October 15, Marak said, “Hence, I request you to kindly look into the matter and direct your executive committee to stop treating BJP as opposition and distribute the basic grants (tied and untied) equally to all so that the people get the benefit. Kindly, acknowledge this prayer and stop discrimination other non-NPP MDCS in GHADC as it affects the people they represent.”
He alleged that the GHADC executive committee has allotted only Rs 15 lakh to Tura constituency which also happens to be the chief minister’s constituency.
“I am a BJP MDC and NPP is in coalition with BJP in the Centre and the state but in GHADC, NPP has treated BJP biasly in all activities even in distribution of developmental funds sanctioned by the BJP government in the Centre through the Rural Local Bodies (RLBS) under Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC),” Marak said.
Stating that Tura is the biggest constituency among the GHADC constituencies having the highest number of population and voters, he said, “Biasness by the NPP-led executive committee has deprived the people of Tura of basic facilities which could have been provided through the funds sanctioned by the Centre.”
He further alleged that the work order issued by GHADC which has limited the sanction to only Rs 15 lakh violates the guidelines of Finance Commission.
“The limited allocation also violates the constitutional right of an elected representative as it deprives the people of the constituency one represents,” he said adding “Tura is a prestigious seat and it has more than 30 villages which I want to be firm that it should not be deprived. The prestigious Tura constituency has been deprived in the past too as merely Rs 10 lakh was allotted from the tied and untied fund in the past by the NPP-led executive committee.”
“So, I humbly request you to direct your MDCs in GHADC to distribute the fund equally. Secondly, you are requested to release the due amounts payable to GHADC by the state government as royalty and others as GHADC is sinking in debts yet under pressure to pay its employees for the last 31 months. You are also requested to pay the afforestation fund released to the state in the last 3 years through the agreement signed by ANVC and ANVC (B) as it is meant for GHADC Forest department, not State. Also release the motor vehicle taxes to GHADC as the state has not cleared its dues for years,” Marak further stated in the letter.