RTI reveals dual ghost projects under MPLADS & SUWP: Marak

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 1, 2022

BJP leader and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak on Sunday alleged that the National People’s Party workers are taking Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his sister, an MP from Tura Agatha K Sangma for a ride by taking out huge amounts from the MPLADS and SUWP funds for projects which are non existent “Ghost projects”

“Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Tura MP Agatha Sangma are fooled by their party workers and contractors. Misuse of public money continues as more ghost projects emerged through RTIs in Chief Minister’s South Tura constituency and Agatha Sangma’s hometown Tura,” Marak said in a statement. 

He said the RTIs filed in Tura Municipal Board revealed ghost projects sanctioned through SUWP and MPLADS which are shown as completed under SUWP (2018-19) and as ongoing under MPLADS (since 2017-18) are non existent in reality. 

“Among many projects which got cleared as completed, I want to bring to public domain a particular graveyard shed at my locality (Kongbe Ading) where one party worker has got Rs 3 lakhs sanctioned from MPLADS in 2017-18 for the graveyard waiting shed at Ranggira (which actually refers to Kongbe Ading graveyard). She got  another 1 lakh sanctioned from CM’s SUWP in 2018-19 for RCC shed at Kongbe Ading graveyard which is shown as completed in RTI but only shed that stands in that graveyard is the temporary shed constructed by the public,” he said.

Marak said that this graveyard is used by Kongbe Ading and Ranggira locality so both the sanctions were made for the same shed in one lady’s name. 

But when inspected, only shed that was found in that graveyard was the one constructed by public through general contribution and not by MPLADS or SUWP. 

“Moreover, the graveyard belongs to Kongbe Ading which does not fall under Municipality but that worker somehow got it sanctioned through Municipality without public knowledge and the officials certified the shed as completed without doing physical verification. Villagers were suppressed by the party workers from bringing out the fact so this statement is released,” he said. 

The BJP leader said the party worker’s name is not revealed here so that CM and MP takes action the illegal activity and misuse of public fund and if no action is taken, we will take legal steps. This is just one of those many ghost projects which has emerged from the MPLADS and SUWP in Tura South. 

“Secondly, Munipality is reluctant to provide detailed information on RTIs filed in Tura Municipality Board seeking the list of beneficiaries of various schemes. More RTIs have been filed to get details and list of individual beneficiaries and SHGs who availed various schemes including NULM and other Centre Schemes,” he said while maintaining that no one should be deprived from the facilities provided by the Centre.