PAC summons State Chief Secretary
FROM OURCORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, May 10: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Meghalaya Assembly today said that it has summoned the State Chief Secretary on May 24 on the alleged irregularities in paying compensation to land owners by the Ri-Bhoi district administration while taking possession of their land for expanding Umroi Airport.
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Paul Lyngdoh informed that apart from Chief Secretary others who were summoned are, Ri-Bhoi district Deputy Commissioner and officials of the revenue, transport and PWD (Building) departments.
According to Lyngdoh, recently, the special report of the committee was placed in the Assembly during the budget session.
The PAC, Chairman said that even though the report was placed in the State Assembly, the relevant government departments have not gone through the report.
“Therefore, the district administration, is acting in an arbitrary manner and a number of households have in fact met with avoidable harassment,” Lyngdoh told reporters here today.
He also alleged that the Deputy Commissioner is acting only to save her own skin and to avoid court.
“…but the other side of the story is to ensure that the rightful landowners are properly identified and justice is done to them in conformity with the law of the lands,” Lyngdoh added.
He also said that in the case of compensation to the land owners, whose land was acquired for expansion of Umroi Airport the right of fair and equitable compensation” was not given due importance by the Government of Meghalaya.
Lyngdoh further said that although an airport for Shillong is the need of the hour, he however added that this should not however be at the cost of trampling on the rights of the individuals (landowners).
Meanwhile, PAC also discussed on matters pertaining to operation and purchase of JNNURM buses.
According to Lyngdoh, they met officials of the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and pointed out that the cumulative loss to the authority is huge due the absence of a strong full proof agreement that would bind the operators and to make sure that they meet their commitments.
The MUDA informed the PAC that they have received sanctions and are working towards the creation of three bus termils at Mawpat, Mawiong and Laitkor.
