Sohiong residents flag inconsistencies in fund release

Claiming that they have not received funds from the Special Rural Works Programme (SRWP) scheme 2018-2022, a section of the residents of Sohiong constituency have demanded an answer from former MLA Samlin Malngiang as to why this situation has come about.

Speaking to media persons, John Wankhar claimed that many residents of various villages under Sohiong constituency have not received funds, despite their names having appeared in the list of beneficiaries.

Wankhar informed that after receiving complaints from villagers, a group of residents had sought RTI report from the CRD Block Office Sohiong in June 2022 on the number of beneficiaries benefited from the SRWP scheme 2018-2022.

“As per the RTI report received on 12 July 2022 from the CRD Block Office Sohiong, till date there are 15 individuals or families from various villages who have not receive any funds under the SRWP scheme 2018-2022 despite their names have appeared in the list of beneficiaries” alleged Wankhar.

Wandalin Khongsit, a resident of Kharlakhar village who had accompanied the group said that her name had also appeared in the list to receive Rs.10,000 for the implementation of SRWP scheme but till date the fund was never accredited to her account.

Khongsit said that all beneficiaries of the SRWP scheme 2018-2022 was supposed to be given Rs.10,000 to Rs.20,000 but till date there are 14 individuals or families who have not received the fund despite their names having appeared in the beneficiaries list.

“As a group and personally I have visited the CRD Block Office Sohiong and have enquired about the non-release of funds meant under SRWP scheme 2018-2022 but till date, we have not received any positive response” said Khongsit.

Speaker chairs meeting on new Assembly building

Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma chaired a meeting of the High Powered Committee on the construction of the new Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira, legislators Charles Pyngrope, Lahkmen Rymbui, and Banteidor Lyngdoh, Chief Secretary DP Wahlang, Commissioner & Secretary, Meghalaya Assembly, Dr Andrew Simons and other government officials.

After the meeting, the Assembly Speaker informed that the HPC meeting was held to give administrative approval to the new design of the dome as well as financial approval citing the increase of scope of work.

He stated that the new design has been vetted by IIT Roorkee and IIT Guwahati, and added that construction work of the building will proceed now.

‘The HPC sat to give administrative approval (to the new dome design) and also there was some financial approval required. The scope of work has also increased,’ the Speaker said.

‘After Eid work will resume in full swing,’ the Speaker said.

He also informed that the HPC has appointed a Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) as per the observations made by IIT Guwahati in the report on the collapse of the dome.

He also informed that the PWD & PMC has been instructed to look at the second phase of construction simultaneously.

Planning Board committed to state’s welfare: Metbah

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 4: Chairman of the Meghalaya State Planning Board Metbah Lyngdoh today said the board is committed to contributing to the welfare of the state.

After chairing the first meeting of the board, Lyngdoh said, “We are not here just because we are appointed as chairman or members of the board. We are here to contribute to the welfare of the state and we are very committed.”

“I am pleased to inform you that both the members who are co-chairmen of the board have said that we are not here not to just enjoy the perks and facilities of the government but we are here to contribute and we will ensure that we will do so in this year being the first year otherwise it will not have that joy for us to enjoy those perks and facilities from the government,” he added.

Lyngdoh however informed that the first meeting of the board was an introductory kind of meeting. He said the government is yet to issue necessary notification for the appointment of other members of the board.

As of now, the board has only three members including the chairman and two co-chairmen, who all are elected representatives.

He said like the previous board, other official members will include Chief Secretary, Commissioner & Secretary and others including experts from different fields.

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“The planning department in consultation with the chief minister and the board chairman will notify those expert members about 4-5 members to be members of this planning board,” he said.

The chairman of the planning board said, “Once we have a full-fledged board we will swing into action as far as the board is concerned to discuss the different line departments and to suggest the government accordingly.”

“We will start sometime again next week. We will have a review and we will meet the Chief Minister and discuss with them about the function of the board and how to make it more effective. We will suggest and discuss with him,” he added.