MLA under glare for fund 'misuse'

SHILLONG, Aug 8: The Confederation of Ri-Bhoi People (CoRP) Eastern Zone has accused Umroi constituency MLA Ngaitlang Dhar of misusing funds based on an RTI filed by the organisation from the office of the Umsning block.

“Our local MLA has been misusing public money because he had claimed to have assisted the people from his own pocket. However, he has been helping the people through the MLA scheme by distributing football jersey, blankets etc,” CoRP EZ president Garland Forth Kharsyntiew told reporters here on Tuesday.

Citing an example, he said, “An amount of Rs 3,40,500 was given to one Banrilang Pyngrope at Nongrah for development of his paddy field. However, after seeking information from the residents of Nongrah, we have learnt that this person does not even own a paddy field.”

He further said the MLA distributed CGI sheets to the people having a thickness of 0.25mm. However, the RTI revealed that a purchase was made for CGI sheets with a thickness of 0.45mm at a cost of Rs 600 per piece for around 370 beneficiaries, he alleged.

In this connection, Kharsyntiew said the CoRP will soon place the RTI in the public domain.

The organisation has further demanded the MLA clarify on the existence of the Twelve Development Organization (TDO) as revealed in the RTI.

“We seek clarification from the MLA as the RTI revealed that huge amount of money was also withdrawn by this organization,” he said, while adding that CoRP does not recognize the organization.