CM highlights transparency in power department

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said the Cabinet’s decision to approve a Rs 700 crore tender for implementation of the loss reduction project under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) reflects the transparency that the government power department has.

“Bringing it (tender) to the cabinet is an indication of the transparency that the department has, the minister has where he would like to share the procedure, the process followed, the steps taken in order to arrive to what we have arrived and to allot to work and to move ahead with certain aspects,” Conrad told reporters.

“You have to understand that it is a large tender, it is a Rs 700 crores tender and when a large tendering process like this happens, it’s a basic process or a kind of culture that we follow that any large decision that is there and a decision which could possibly have you know, people could misunderstand even though there is nothing to misunderstand but it has possibility,” he said while adding “So it is always a culture that we try to bring these kind of decisions to the cabinet for the sake of transparency. We are not trying to hide anything, it has been given all the details to the cabinet ministers and everything is in the open for people to see.”

 

Recently, the opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma has questioned the Cabinet’s decision to approve a tendering process proposed by the power department and cautioned the cabinet ministers if it can be a trap against them.

Reacting to this, Conrad said, “It’s quite funny that Dr Mukul Sangma has questioned why. That means he is questioning the transparency procedure that we are having. If we wanted to do it quietly or if there was an intention then we would have never brought it to Cabinet.”

He said every detail about how many times the retendering, how many times the extension of the tendering was done it’s mentioned out there in the cabinet note and the cabinet ministers were briefed about it about the fact that the government had written continuously a couple of times to the REC and inform them about the different kind of issues that came up in the tendering process and sought their approval to go ahead because the tendering process had been extended had been re-tendered.

“And all the necessary procedures have been followed and only after we got the approval or a green signal from REC did we go ahead with the certain aspects. Of course procedure is not complete yet but certain parts are moving forward and in that process to ensure the transparency would be maintained we decided together both AT Mondal and myself that lets us take it to the cabinet and let everybody know what it is, ask questions about it, feel free to feel comfortable about all the questions so that there is no doubt tomorrow if anybody in the press or public asks us,” the CM said.

“So I think it’s just the opposite of what he (Mukul) had reacted to that. I think the fact that has been brought to the cabinet is something that one should appreciate that transparency is being maintained,” he further added.

Mukul warns of ‘trap’ waiting for Cabinet

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sep 17: Opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma has questioned the recent Cabinet’s decision to approve a tendering process proposed by the power department and cautioned the cabinet ministers that this may be a trap against them.

He was referring to the decision of the Cabinet taken on August 25, where the work has been alloted to L1 bidder for implementation of the loss reduction project under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

“I am questioning the intent of that particular cabinet agenda. The item for the consideration and approval of the cabinet which was brought by the power department itself is reflective of the underlying fact that there are certain irregularities in the process of tender otherwise if there is no irregularity why was it necessary for the power department to bring it to the cabinet,” Mukul told reporters.

He said there are already set of rules notified by the department of finance for tendering process and there is also CVC (central vigilance commission) guidelines.

“Now if PWD is calling tender, are they coming to the Cabinet to get approval? They don’t come so why MeECL has to come? MeECL is already an unbundled entity, it is no longer a state electricity board, it is a company,” Mukul added.

Further, the former chief minister said, “You have to ask the members of the Cabinet, you are approving somebody’s process of work which might have been irregular but in five minutes they have approved it. Now as a minister how do you know they have followed (the procedures) or not. If they have followed the procedures, why do they need approval of the Cabinet?”

He also pointed out that the recent charge-sheeting by the Lokayukta against former members of the GHADC executive committee was because of a collective decision they took as an executive committee.

Mukul further alleged that the chief minister Conrad K Sangma will put all the cabinet ministers into a trap because of such decision.

“Every tendering process has to adhere to the given norms which are in sync with the various notifications including the financial rules, including the CBC guidelines. Unless there is a deviation and irregularities why will they need (to bring it to the cabinet)? MeECL is a company. Therefore, it requires unearthing of the fact. What is the underlying thing and what exactly is there that it requires the cabinet approval?” he said.

“The approval of the cabinet to regularize a process in itself is inherently irregular. If cabinet approves, then the whole cabinet will be held responsible. So indirectly the ministers, who are unnecessarily being dragged into will also be (held responsible),” the former CM added further.

Sohiong polls: TMC candidate condemns rival’s statement

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Sohiong constituency, Stoding Thabah today condemned the statement made by NPP candidate on religious leaders at one of his political campaigns.

Speaking to media persons, Thabah alleged that the NPP candidate Samlin Malngiang in one of his campaigns has made ill statements against religious leaders of one particular faith, stating that pastors never practice what they preached.

The TMC Sohiong Block condemns the statement made by the NPP candidate and at the same time demands public apology for his statement.

The TMC candidate expressed confidence in winning the Sohiong polls and he claimed that sympathy votes will not play a big role as the UDP candidate Synshar Kurbah was against late HDR Lyngdoh during the 2018 election.

BJP for better education in Sohiong

Candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Seraph Eric Kharbuki has assured to fight for a degree college and a residential school in Sohiong constituency if elected as MLA in the upcoming election to be held on May 10.

Spelling out his priorities, Kharbuki told reporters today that his decision to contest in the up-coming is to become a leader or a people’s representative who will frame laws and policy and not merely a leader who is only concerned in distributing MLA schemes.

Kharbuki said that his objective of contesting the by-election is to serve the public of the constituency especially when it comes to education and to able to come up with policy that will benefit the farmers of the constituency and the state as whole

He added that he had vision for the need to have a degree college in Lum Diengiei and an Eklavya Residential School.

“Apart from schools and colleges in the constituency, I have also listed out in the manifesto to have a agriculture and horticulture office, state bank of India and Apex bank in Lum Diengiei, to promote tourism and sports in the constituency by constructing two mini stadium” said Kharbuki.

Kharbuki also stressed on the need to legalize direct funding through corpus funds to all Dorbar Shnong in order to implement various developmental schemes in all villages and to install street lights in various important localities in the constituency.

NPP in talks with PDF MLAs over merger

National People’s Party (NPP) National President and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma have informed that discussions with the two legislators of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) for merging with the party are on.

“Discussions will take place but as I said there is no final conclusion or anything yet. Therefore, we will wait and see when the time comes,” Sangma told reporters today.

Currently, the PDF has two MLAs – Banteidor Lyngdoh and Gavin M Mylliem- in the assembly.

If the proposed merger takes place, the strength of the National People’s Party will increase to 28 in the current 59-member House.

Earlier, Lyngdoh, who is also PDF working president had said, “Talks are on to merge with the NPP. We will take a call at the right time.”

Talks are on to merge the People’s Democratic Front, an ally of the ruling coalition in Meghalaya, with the NPP ahead of the May 10 poll to Sohiong assembly seat where election was adjourned in February, a PDF leader said on Thursday.

When asked, Lyngdoh said he cannot say anything further as decisions will not be taken by him alone.

Dry days declared in Sohiong

In view of the adjourned poll to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Commissioner (Excise) of East Khasi Hills district has declared May 8, 9 and 10, 2023 as dry days.

This is on account of these being the pre-polling and polling days. Also May 13 has been declared as a dry day on account of being the day of counting of votes.

This order is applicable in all areas falling under Sohiong (ST) Assembly Constituency.