Govt reject Congress’ demand for inquiry into implementation of Saubhagya scheme

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 13, 2019

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government on Friday rejected the demand of the opposition Congress to institute an independent inquiry into alleged “big scam” in the implementation of the Saubhagya scheme. 

“I don’t see the need for instituting an independent inquiry – the state government cannot waste its time on allegations which are based on filmsy ground,” Power Minister James K Sangma told the Assembly. 

He was replying to the short duration discussion raised by Congress MLA from Ampati Miani D Shira on the implementation of Saubhagya scheme for electrification of 100% household and the irregularities associated with the implementation comprising the interest of the state. 

Supporting Miani’s demand for instituting an independent inquiry, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma accused the government of not protecting the interest of the state by deleting certain clause from the bid document and said,”It is well intended and engineered exercise to ultimately create huge loss to the state’s exchequer to benefit somebody.”

Stating that the scheme will be one of the infamous scams that will remain in the history of Meghalaya, Mukul said, “We call for an independent inquiry. Let the inquiry go into the details of the whole tendering process and manner in which the project is implemented and the manner in which whole exercise is being designed to make the state a loser.” 

Rubbishing the allegations, the power minister maintained that there is no big scam in the scheme and said, “Calling the Saubhagya scheme a big scam without any kind of evidence or on filmsy reason this is not right for a leader of his stature.” 

He said the bid documents are based on the guidelines of the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) which include the terms and conditions of the contract and amendments and corringendums. “There is nothing untoward or irregular happen in the process,” he added. 

“The MeECL made certain condition in the tender which would ensure that the persons who would qualify would be firms who would be having the capacity to carry out these works. If we don’t, there would be too many bidders. In that case, the work which is very  much timebound, would face a problem.Therefore, because of that stringent conditions were put and I dont see anything wrong in that as the MeECL and power department wants to ensure better quality of work and also keeping in mind the time constrains,” he said.

The power minister further informed within six months, over 500 villages were electrified under the Saubhagya scheme when compared with Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDU GJY), which could cover only 1091 villages in three and a half years. 

“I appeal to members to support the government so that this dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure every household get electricity is achieved,” James said while maintaining that there is no big scam to the saubhagya scheme implemented in Meghalaya.