SHILLONG:
Social activist Tengsimbirth G. Momin recently filed a complaint with the Meghalaya Lokayukta against former Mendipathar MLA Marthon J Sangma and three others, alleging the misuse and misappropriation of public money since the year 2018.
Addressing a press conference in Shillong on January 23, Momin’s advocate A H Hazarika informed that the complainant had filed an RTI and found that poor families are being deprived of their right to receive CGI sheets.
He alleged that money has been misappropriated and siphoned for personal interest with the connivance of Sangma, the Deputy Commissioner of North Garo Hills, and the Block Development Officer of North Garo Hills.
The RTI revealed that no list of beneficiaries was provided to the BDO, but the money sanctioned for CGI sheets, amounting to crores of rupees, was released.
Hazarika listed the dates of sanction orders by the Community and Rural Development (C &RD) under the Special Rural Works Programme (SRWP) back to December 13, 2018, when an amount of Rs 1,25,27,500 was sanctioned for the implementation of 35 projects, out of which a part of the amount is the distribution of CGI sheets meant for 610 Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
He stated that the MLA is required to submit the names of the beneficiaries to the BDO who in turn will forward the names to the Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA).
“But the RTI revealed that there is no list of beneficiaries, however the money sanctioned for the CGI sheet is about crores of rupees, was withdrawn and on the recommendation of the local MLA of Mendipathar was released to John Denver Sangma. The money was released but the BPL families did not get CGI sheets,” Hazarika said.
The second sanction order was on March 6, 2020 with a total amount of Rs 1,36, 55, 000 for the implementation of 45 projects under SRWP schemes for the year 2019-20 and in a letter dated March 23, 2020 for purchase of CGI sheet for distribution to BPL beneficiaries under SWRP scheme 2019-20 amounting to Rs 1,11,60,000.
“Here also, there is no list of beneficiaries provided. Without approval the BDO and DC cannot release the money but it was sanctioned and released in connivance with the local MLA,” the advocate said.
The other sanction order is an amount of Rs 1,65,35,800 for the construction of waiting shed, market shed, urinals, toilet, but it was found that there were no such structures on physical inspection.
Hazarika further said Momin has physically verified that Rs 30,000 was sanctioned for five tube-wells for Gajingpara village but it was found that no tube-wells were installed but 50 percent of the amount is already withdrawn, four 4-seater pedal boat of Rs 75,000 each for Jolding lake was sanctioned but it was found that an amount of Rs 3 lakh has been drawn.
Again, he said that Rs 1,25,000 was sanctioned for construction of a market shed at Jamgao village but it was found that not a single shed was constructed but 50 per cent of the amount has already been drawn.
Asked, as to what made Momin come forward with the allegations before the elections, Hazarika said, “People are becoming conscious before the elections and therefore have filed an RTI.”