JHADC denied BJP’s allegations on misutilization of SAG funds

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 10, 2020

A day after the Meghalaya BJP leaders demands for CBI enquiry into the misappropriation of Special Assistance Grant funds, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM), Thombor Shiwat on Thursday outrightly rejected that there is massive corruption in the implementation of the SAG funds.

Addressing a press conference, Thombor Shiwat said, “The allegations made by BJP leaders is baseless as the implementation the Centre’s Special Assistance Grants (SAG) is according to the guidelines and there is no irregularities and misuse of the SAG funds.”

“I admitted that we have taken as a loan Rs.20 Crore for payment of salary from the Special Assistance Grant but we have refund the fund after the Council received the share from the State Government,” Thombor Shiwat said.

He also said all the works and project under SAG was implemented according to the project submit by all the members of the Council and works is done according to the plan and estimate during the year and 90 percent of the work completed.

He slammed the BJP leaders and MDC Lakhon Biam because they do not have knowledge how JHADC utilised the SAG fund since the year 2015-16. “JHADC has been awarded for performing well and received grant from the Central Government of India of amount Rs. 89, 000, 50/- for successfully implement the SAG Schemes,” JHADC Chief said.

He also added that there is no such irregularities and misuse of the SAG funds and Councils Own Fund (COF) which is meant to help and support the poor and needy in emergency in each MDC constituency in agriculture sectors, relief when there is natural calamities etc.

Executive Member in charge Civil Work Department, JHADC Phasmon Dkhar said that the allegations made by BJP leaders and MDC is baseless. “This is just an insult to the JHADC and the members because the BJP cannot substantiate its evidence into corruption charges made by BJP leaders of the state,” said Phasmon.

Phasmon Dkhar said that “The purchase of Ambulance, PA system and others community assets falls within the purview of basic civic services. The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council has been performing well in the SAG of 2015-2016 and Grant for Areas not included Part IX& IX A of the constitution for the year 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

“In the year 2015-2016 JHADC received- Rs 3357.00 Lakhs and Number of Schemes and Project undertaken is 386 And 97.88% Utilized up to August 2020. In 2017-2018 JHADC has received- Rs 1074.90 Lakhs, the Number of Schemes and Project undertaken is 195 and And 85.96% utilized up to August 2020. In 2018-2019 councils received – Rs 1672.65 Lakhs Number of Schemes and Project undertaken is 172+94. And 16.39% utilized up to August 2020.”

“By the end of the year will reach the target to complete the project 60-70 percent. We have utilised the central fund in proper way and JHADC is performing well in implementation of the SAG funds,” said Phasmon.

He also said that soon Iawmusiang project will resume as we have received the amount Rs.69 lakhs from the state government.