Opp Congress expresses reservation against move to mortgage MeECL assets

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 11, 2021

The opposition Congress on Friday expressed strong reservation against mortgaging the land and assets of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) for obtaining the government guarantee to repay the atma nirbhar loan of Rs 1,345.72 crore.

Party spokesperson and Rangsakona legislator Zenith Sangma in a statement issued thanked the leaders of the regional parties for exerting pressure on the NPP-led state government resulting in the scrapping of the proposal to engage franchisee for two major distribution circles in Meghalaya.

He however said but the mention of mortgaging of the MeECL land and assets to the government to obtain 100 % government guarantee against Rs 1345.72 crore atma nirbhar loan is required to be examined thoroughly.

“From the day one itself, I have always been opposed to the idea of taking atma nirbhar loan, as this loan will make MeECL fall into a debt trap,” Sangma added.

The Congress leader said the engagement of M/s NITCON as PMC for monetization of land and assets of MeECL should also be reviewed, otherwise the future of all the assets of the MeECL is at stake.

According to him, pertaining to these issues only, some Independent Director resigned as Member of the Board of Directors of MeECL, has to be taken seriously.

Sangma also reminded that the state government had constituted High Powered Committee (HPC) in August, 2020, with an intention to monitor the performance of the MePDCL and which was supposed to meet once in every month.

“But numerous major decisions were made under MePDCL without the approval (and) the knowledge of the High Powered Committee. The people in the present government prepare the rules and break the same very easily,” he alleged.

He continued “This is the true colour of this present NPP led Government headed by Conrad Sangma.”

The Rangsakona legislator further questioned the delay to set up the independent inquiry announced by the state government.

“It’s more than one month since the Chief Minister announced to setting up an Independent Inquiry. It reflects how serious he is. From his actions we can understand it was just eyewash – whatever he says is just lip service, superficial, taking the people for granted,” he said.

“I reiterate again to demand that there should be a CBI Investigation of all the alleged corruption in the implementation of SAUBHAGYA, Ganol Power Project, ERP, Smart Metering Projects, Special Tariff to BIA, Power Purchases, etc.

If we allow this present NPP led MDA Government headed by Conrad Sangma to continue for even a single day, it means huge loss to the state exchequer and detrimental to the people of the state because their priority is not to protect the interest of the people of the state,” he further added.