Villager demands CBI probe into misappropriation of funds for airport expansion

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 2, 2019

SHILLONG: A resident of Syllei-U-Lar, Umroi in Ri Bhoi District has demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged corruption in the expansion project of the Umroi airport. 

Krondeng Nongbsap has also filed a petition before the Lokayukta against the alleged misappropriation of the funds for the project to the tune of over Rs 11.72 crore. The next hearing on the matter has been fixed on December 19. 

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Nongbsap told reporters that as per RTI, it was revealed that the executive engineer of the PWD M Pyrbot has sanctioned a total of Rs 11.72 crore to the three contractors for no work. 

Of this, a total of Rs 8.58 crore was sanctioned to the M/s Dhar Construction Company while Rs 1.5 crore was sanctioned to R Ryngksai and Rs 1.30 crore to B Khongwar. These contractors have been allotted work for removing of cluster II and III at Umktieh village. 

Nongbsap however said the chairman of the Lokayukta in his recent statement had decided not to accept the police investigation report on the matter. 

“Therefore, I would like to request the Lokayukta to consider instituting a thorough investigation into the matter before passing any order in this case,” he said while also asserted the need to hand over the investigation to the CBI. 

Meanwhile, Nongbsap also expressed concern over the absence of translator during the hearing conducted by the Lokayukta. 

“I would like to demand the immediate appointment of Khasi translator for the benefit of rural people who are not well verse with English language,” he said.