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Conrad justifies over Rs 244 crore expenditure on consultants

Shillong, March 24: Chief Minister Conrad  Sangma has justified the expenditure of Rs 244 36 crore on consultants.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Conrad said  the appointment of consultants is mandated for the implementation of the various externally aided projects (EAPs) and activities of the different ministries in the state.

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To a question on spending on 161 consultants, Conrad said, “The different ministries from the Government of India like for PMGSY, Smart City Project, and other department works that are there have mandated that consultants have to be appointed. It is not an option, it is compulsory.”

“Even for the externally aided projects that are going on, it is mandated that there should be a consultant for different activities that are to be conducted in different departments, ministries,” he said.

According to the chief minister, the government is spending Rs 250 crore on consultants for five years which means Rs 50 crore per year.

“Rs 250 crore may sound big but then if you divide the years, months and number of projects going on it is roughly Rs 20 lakh per month is being spent by each of these departments on each project,” Conrad said.

The chief minister said consultants are being engaged for over Rs 16,000 crore worth  projects as mandated by the ministries and EAPs. Of these, Rs 12,000 crore plus are EAPs, Rs 1,000 crore are smart town projects and Rs 3,000 crore for PMGSY and others.

“It is very reasonable in terms of expenditure that is done,” he said.

Conrad said the expenditure is coming from the EAPs and not from the government’s revenue. “It is part of the project and so also for the smart town projects and also for the PMGSY”.

,,”But the good part is that in most cases we don’t touch the 5% provision to be utilized from the total cost of the projects as in the case of EAPs that is kept. It is much below that. So it is done in a very efficient manner,” he added.

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