Staff Reporter

Shillong, Jan 4: Former GHADC member from Balachanda Sofior Rahman has demanded an independent inquiry into the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in West Garo Hills District.

Submitting a letter of complaint to the Secretary of the Central Vigilance Committee (CVC) Government of India, Rahman said, “I would like to request you to please kindly send an independent inquiry team or vigilance team from your end to inquire the schemes or vigil the schemes of JJM and please kindly take immediate course of action to the Chief Engineer, PHED, Meghalaya, to the TPIA, NEDfi, Guwahati and to the M/s BAC INFRATECH PRIVATE LTD, Tura for the aforesaid corruption and scams.”

He alleged that there are large number of corruptions and scams in the JJM implementation in West Garo Hills district and said that the PHE department has shown expenditure without implementing the JJM schemes in plainbelt areas of West Garo Hills district.

The former MDC alleged that the work for augmentation of Nekikona combined water supply scheme “Id 8394205” is yet to be implemented but the estimated amount has already been drawn by the contractors/firms/companies.

The scheme was sanctioned in 2021-22 and the target for completion was December 31, 2023. The total cost is Rs 6036.03 lakhs while the total expenditure is reported at Rs 5148.71 lakhs.

He however said that the progress of work is only 20% in the ground. “Not a single functional house tap connection (FHTC) provided to the villages and beneficiaries under this scheme/project,” Rahman said while adding “In papers or in the Jal Jeevan Mission-IMIS, the Functional house tap connection (FHTC) already provided to the beneficiaries or villagers. The Office or Company or Firms or individual contractors already drawn the expenditure amount reported: 5148.71 (in lakhs) from the total Scheme cost of 6036.03 (in lakhs) as per PHED official report.”

The work for implementation of the augmentation of Nekikona combined WSS was allotted to the firm  “M/S BAC INFRATECH PRIVATE LTD” and the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi), Guwahati has been appointed as the Third Party Inspection Agency (TPIA).

He further alleged in the complaint that the chief engineer of PHE along with the firm and TPIA are indulging in corruption while implementing the JJM schemes.

“I am giving here some evidence as Annexure-I and you can check the IMIS of JJM of Govt of India, do the spot enquiry of the projects then surely you will get the huge evidence of corruption. Sir, the work order of the scheme id 8394205 “Augmentation of Nekikiona Combined WSS issued from the PHED, Meghalaya on 23/12/2021 but the PHED, Meghalaya and Third Party Inspection Agency, NEDFi was given approval for payment to the Firm M/S BAC INFRATECH PRIVATE LTD in the month of February 2022 Rs.460.00 (in lakhs), March 2022 Rs.2, 920.16 (in lakhs), June 2023 Rs.1, 327.00 (in lakhs) again September 2023 Rs.440.00 (in lakhs).

In total payment or bills given to in favour of the above mentioned Firm & Scheme total Rs.5,148.71 (in lakhs) that is ( Fifty one crores forty eight lakhs and seventy one thousand) out of total estimated cost Rs.6036.03 (in lakhs) that is ( sixty crores thirty six lakhs and three thousand only). Therefore Sir, it’s a huge corruption and scams as per my knowledge,” Rahman said.

He further questioned, “How they was drawn the amount Rs.5148.71 (in lakhs)( Fifty one crores fourty eight lakhs and seventy one thousands) out of estimated cost Rs 6036.03 (in lakhs) without started the Scheme work of Augmentation of Nekikona combined WSS & how is it possible to draw or given the payment within a month or two of issued the work order from the PHED? How the Chief Engineer, PHED, Meghalaya allow giving the payment to above mentioned Firm, How the TPIA verified to given the payments or bills to the Firm without Started the works in the ground?”

“Now the PHED, TPIA, and M/S BAC INFRATECH PRIVATE LIMITED (are_ trying to surfaces the corruptions by the help of NGOs, Officials and some politicians of the Meghalaya,” he alleged.