SHILLONG:
The Thma U Rangli Juki has expressed shock at the recently-tabled Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report on the revenue sector and state finances.
In a press communiqué here, TUR stated, “From non-realisation of taxes of more than Rs 700 crore to underutilised funds, bad budgetary estimates, incomplete projects, decline in the share of agriculture in the GSDP, non-submission of utilisation certificates – the story of malgovernance in Meghalaya is out in black and white.”
The organisation went on to say that the period covered in the report predates Covid-induced disruption asserting that one dreads to think what post-Covid CAG reports would show.
“What is shocking is also the inability of our legislature to learn its lessons from CAG reports and act upon its recommendations. The MDA government which has turned into a government of consultants hasn’t really managed to turn Meghalaya’s finances around,” the organisation stated.
TUR went on to allege that in a state where financial powers and planning are concentrated in the hands of individual bureaucrats, the consultants are merely used to hide the systemic failure, inefficiency and legalising leakage of funds to the political-businessmen nexus.