HSPDP MDC slams PDF on travel bill

FROM OUR REPORTER

SHILLONG, June 28: Reacting to an RTI findings, HSPDP MDC, Pyniaid Sing Syiem from Sohryngkham constituency said, “I’m pleased that someone filed an RTI on the expenditure of the People Democratic Forum (PDF) on air travel to Delhi because in the recently concluded summer session of the KHADC. I raised the same question, however the Executive Committee did not release my question since they were not willing to answer and this shows that there is excess expenditure of public money.”

It may be recalled that an RTI revealed the whopping amount of expenditure incurred by PDF on air travel to Delhi.

Speaking to The Sentinel, Syiem voiced his disagreement on the part of the district council to spend such an amount on travel by air.

According to him, regarding any work of council if requires a trip to Delhi then only a few should go, but not many people since it is a waste of money.

“I want the Executive Committee to answer the question I raised in the just concluded summer session of KHADC in the next session,” he said.

“I raised questions on the expenditure incurred by the KHADC in re-constructing and organizing the Monolith Festival. However I did not get any conclusive answer and if I being a member can’t get any decisive answers then how will the public get clarification on such subject matters,” he said.

In connection with the meeting of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) of North East, Syiem expressed shock that the Council spent Rs. 2, 49,561 in a meeting which was held for just one day at Pinewood.

Expressing similar views, Independent MDC from Mawhati constituency, James Sylliang EM in-charge Education, while speaking to reporters said, “I was shocked when I read the papers and saw that an RTI revealed that the KHADC had spent Rs. 9, 88,735 on air travel.”

Regarding the meeting of Northeast at Pinewood last year, he said, “This is a white lie on the part of the Council towards the general public. The meeting would not cost more than Rs. 50,000 if we include the Hall fees, food and lodging and say that the expenditure came to Rs. 2 lakhs plus it unbelievable.”

He said the celebration of District Council Day is always a good thing.  

Sylliang expressed his disagreement with the actions of the CEM who is also in-charge of Law for increasing the allotment of funds towards the Councils court cases funds from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 60 lakhs.

“I feel the CEM should have allotted more funds towards the Education department to uplift education, schools in villages which till date have yet to get any help from the state government. The CEM has increased only Rs. 6 lakhs for the education department which now stands at Rs. 20 lakhs,” he said.