Shillong, Feb 13: The Congress has released a charge sheet against the NPP-led MDA government for the corruption cases in Meghalaya.
The ten- point charge sheet mentions about alleged scam in the construction of the Assembly building, Covid scam of missing Rs 43 crore,rice scam, saubhagya scam, non-utilisation certificates worth Rs 500 crore under MUDA, coal scam, excise/bond cartelisation scam, casino scam and government contract scam involving Dhar construction company and police vehicle purchase scam.
The press release reproduced from the press conference at congress bhavan on 13 February 2023 , by AICC media and publicity Chairman Pawan Khera , along with AICC Media coordinators Adv Mathew Antony, Bobbeeta Sharma and AICC Observer, J D Seelam.
CHARGE SHEET AGAINST THE MDA GOVERNMENT
“THE GRAND MEGHALAYA LOOT”
“Nothing can better describe the unprecedented, unabated and unabashed corruption and scams during the last 5 years of the NPP-led MDA government in Meghalaya than these 4 words.
The corruption was not only rampant but also systemic. The scams, financial irregularities and fraudulent practices across various sectors/departments were unprecedented in its scale and shamelessness and couldn’t have taken place without the knowledge, knowhow and blessings of the Chief Minister
Chargesheet 1: ASSEMBLY DOME COLLAPSE SCAM – A CASE OF RANSOM!
SOME QUICK FACTS:
Original cost – Rs 105.59 Cr
Time period of completion – 36 months
Contract awarded to Lucknow-based Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Limited (UPRNNL) for Rs 127.76 Cr (21 percent cost escalation)
Two other bidders disqualified during the bidding process – M/s Badri Rai and Co for “inexperience” in building Dome structure and M/s Shiva Enterprise on technical grounds.
Project cost further escalated to Rs 177.78 Cr
UPRNNL subcontracted the work to the two disqualified bidders – M/s Badri Rai and M/s Shiva Enterprise
Payment of Rs 160.30 Cr released to the contractor which is 90 percent of the escalated project cost when the actual work completed is about 65-70 percent
Status of the project: INCOMPLETE. Work came to a standstill after the dome collapse
One of the most important players in the scam, the Executive Engineer in-charge of the project, Ransom Sutnga took voluntary retirement from service and is contesting as a NPP candidate from North Shillong constituency.
On May 22, 2022 people of Meghalaya woke up to the news that the dome of the under-construction Meghalaya assembly building at Mawdiangdiang in New Shillong Township had collapsed.
To understand the facts of the case one has to go back to August 6, 2018 when the Meghalaya PWD (Buildings) department had issued notice inviting (NIT) for the construction of the new assembly building at an estimated cost of Rs 105.59 Cr and the completion timeline of 36 months. The contract was subsequently awarded to Lucknow-based Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Limited (UPRNNL) for 127.76 Cr at an escalated cost of 21 percent which the department justified was because the cost was calculated as per 2018-19 Schedule of Rates (SOR) as against the earlier projected cost of Rs 105.58 which was based on 2015-16 SOR.
Two other bidders were disqualified during the bidding process. M/s Badri Rai and Co for “inexperience” in building dome structures and M/s Shiva Enterprise on technical grounds.
In a brazen display of abuse of power and in complete disregard of all law and propriety, the two disqualified bidders- M/s Badri Rai and M/s Shiva Enterprise, who were disqualified from participating in the tender process, were given the subcontract by UPRNNL after they won the bid.
The scam doesn’t stop here. After the dome collapse, an RTI query revealed that there was a further inflation from the original cost and the project is now costing Rs 177.79 Cr out of which an amount of Rs 160.30 Cr as already been released/paid to the contractor. Now how can the department release 90 percent of the payment when work for only 65-70 has been completed unless there is a quid-pro-quo?
The collapse of the dome of the new Assembly building has brought to light how corruption is entrenched in every deal made by the MDA. In an unabashed display of power and shamelessness, the NPP gave the party ticket to the Executive Engineer, PWD (Building) Ransom Sutnga, who was responsible for the fraud.
Such forms of blatant misuse of power and public money will have to be answered by the NPP and its alliance partners. Questions of how the UP-based firm got the contract and how previously disqualified bidders were awarded the subcontract need to be investigated.
Mr Conrad Sangma has publicly stated that the Assembly dome collapsed due to its “heavy weight”. That is a very wrong description. The people of Meghalaya know that the dome collapsed due to “HEAVY CORRUPTION”.
May be the reason Ransom Sutnga was awarded the party ticket from Shillong North constituency is because he would have held the government to “ransom” and exposed everyone involved in this scam if he was denied a ticket.
Chargesheet 2: COVID SCAM
SOME QUICK FACTS:
Rs 816 crore was spent by the Meghalaya Govt. for 96,785 covid cases and as ex-gratia payment for 1624 deaths
For comparison, Manipur spent just a little over Rs 100 crore for 1.4 lakh cases and 2149 deaths
Meghalaya’s Covid expenditure was 8 times more than Manipur even it had much lesser covid cases and deaths
Rs 119.73 Cr was released by the centre for covid-related expenses but the Home Minister announced in the Assembly that the Centre had only sanctioned Rs 76 Cr – Discrepancy of 43.73 Cr
No status report available on the ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 to the relatives of those who died of covid
The Director of Health Services, Dr Aman War has now claimed that covid expenses were only Rs 248 Cr and he said he has no clue how the government had incurred an expenditure of Rs 816 Cr
Now Dr War is an UDP candidate from Shillong North constituency
Meghalaya Health Minister James Sangma has replied in the Assembly during the last session in September 2022 that Rs 816 Cr was spent by the government for 96785 confirmed covid cases and 1624 covid deaths. Now compare this with Manipur which had more covid cases (1.4 lakh) and deaths (2149) deaths than Meghalaya and spent an amount of just over Rs 100 Cr. So, Meghalaya’s expenditure for lesser number of covid cases and deaths was more than 8 times than that of Manipur.
According to an RTI query, Rs 119.73 Cr was released by the Centre for covid relief but the then Home Minister, James Sangma announced in the Assembly that the Centre has only sanctioned Rs 76 Cr. Thus, there was a discrepancy of 43.73 Cr between the State and Centre’s figures.
The Director of Health Services, Dr Aman War who headed the department during covid has now contradicted the health minister’s figures. He said Covid expenses were only Rs 248 Cr and he has no clue as to how the government spent 816 Cr. How can there be a discrepancy of Rs 568 Cr? Where did the money go?
Aman War is now contesting as an UDP candidate from Shillong North constituency.
Chargesheet 3: The MUDA SCAM
A sum of Rs. 500 Cr was given to the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Till now no utilization certificate has been given and no one knows how the money has been spent. There is no visible development of the city.
Similarly, the proposed Mega Shopping Complex at Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) premises in Jail Road is also under the scanner. The government intends to spend more than Rs 200 Cr in a plot of land measuring less than 50,000 sq. ft.
This project also stinks of corruption and is a scam. The rates of construction are much higher as compared to the existing rates to construct a building.
It is indeed an irony that senior BJP leader and former Minister, A L Hek, whose party was an alliance partner of this government, has castigated the MDA Government for spending such a huge sum of money for a shopping centre when the same could have been used for other development activities.
Chargesheet 4: COAL SCAM – illegal Mining and Transportation of Coal
The Meghalaya High Court in 2022 had appointed Justice B.P. Katakey, a retired judge of the Gauhati High Court, to ascertain whether the State government has cracked down on illegal coal mining as directed by the Supreme Court and the NGT.
Judge B. P. Katakey in his report has stated that “13 lakh metric tonnes of coal was illegally mined, transported and discovered which the state sought to pass off as coal mined prior to the imposition of the ban”. The report was scathing in its observation that the illegal mining and transportation of coal from Meghalaya could not have happened without “state participation and even encouragement”.
This proves the Congress party’s charge, that there has been a huge scam in illegal mining and transportation of coal to the tune of hundreds of crores and this ill-gotten money is being used by NPP and all the constituent partners of MDA, to fund their luxurious campaigns and “purchase” MLAs of other parties.
According to our calculations, the loss to the state exchequer from the illegal mining and transportation of coal is an estimated at Rs 650 crores. Just imagine how many welfare schemes could have been funded from this money.
Chargesheet 5: Saubhagya Scam
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its 2021 audit report has exposed a scam of Rs 149 Cr in the state Power department, which has been at the centre of one controversy after another, while implementing Centre’s flagship programme “Saubhagya”. The CAG report has pronounced that the Power department has provided “undue favour” to a Delhi firm by awarding the turn-key Saubhagya Scheme causing a loss of Rs 149.12 Cr to the state.
Some of other irregularities in the power department include implementation of various projects such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded smart metering project.
Chargesheet 6: Rice Scam
In July 2021, Assam Police unearthed the scam by seizing one lakh bags of rice from a private godown in Boko of Kamrup district, Assam. Each bag contained 50 kg of rice. This rice was meant for distribution under the PDS scheme in Meghalaya but was diverted to Assam, a group of activists have alleged. They have also deposed before the enquiry commission set up to investigate how such a huge quantity of rice meant for Meghalaya was seized in Assam and recorded their statements.
Chargesheet 7: Excise/Bond Cartelisation Scam
A cartel with the aim of monopolizing IMFL business and manipulating the prices was formed in 2019. This cartel was awarded a CENTRAL BOND which started a kickback system by increasing the wholesale price. This in turn affected the retail price. This resulted in huge loss of revenue to the government.
Chargesheet 8: Casino Scam
The decision of the MDA government to set up casinos along the border in Khanapara is also hugely controversial. Provisional licenses were issued to three firms to open casinos ostensibly to generate revenue for the state. There were allegations of nepotism and favouritism in awarding the contracts.
Only when the church and other social organisations vehemently opposed the move claiming that it will legalise gambling and promote money laundering, did the state government scrap plans of opening casinos.
Chargesheet 9: Friends & Family – Government Contracts Scam
It is no secret that two ministers in the MDA government – Sniawbhalang Dhar and his nephew Dasakhiatbha Lamare – come from a family with interests in construction and transport. Dhar Construction Company (DCC), their family-owned company has monopoly over all road construction and infrastructure projects in Meghalaya, especially Khasi-Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi. The work for construction of almost all projects in Meghalaya are awarded to this firm and both the uncle and nephew being ministers in the MDA government makes it a classic case of nepotism, favouritism and an obvious conflict of interest. How can a company, however eligible it may be, with two members of the family being a part of the government, monopolise all government contracts? This is a scam of massive proportions.
Chargesheet 10: Police purchase scam
On November 2, 2022, Assistant Inspector of Police (AIG), Gabriel Iangrai was arrested by CID in connection with mismanagement in procurement of vehicles and use of fuel coupons in the what is now known as the police vehicles purchase scam. In its report an internal enquiry committee, headed by a senior police official of the rank of IGP, found that there has been unofficial procurement, non-registration of 29 vehicles, questionable allotment and purchase of cheaper models of vehicles against sanction of expensive variants etc. Now how can an AIG without support and blessings from his bosses perpetrate such an elaborate scam is a question to be pondered.
We are just listing 10 scams and financial irregularities in our Chargesheet out of the hundreds of such scams which has happened under the MDA regime. The list is endless.
The Congress government, when it comes to power, will ensure that the perpetrators of what we are calling The Grand Meghalaya Loot are brought to book and the embezzled money recovered from the perpetrators of this grand larceny”. (unedited version)
