The opposition Congress has lambasted the State government over the various scams in Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) and the ongoing electricity crisis in the State which has affected every household including anomalies in electricity bills and frequent power outages.
In a statement issued today, the Mahila Congress said that the continued protests and dissent by the employees of MeECL has raised a number of questions on the functions, role and responsibilities of the Board of Directors and the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD).
“It is astonishing that in spite of the delay in payment of salary and other pending benefits of the serving employees and those who have retired, the MeECL management has the audacity to waive off Rs 104 crore to an industry in Byrnihat area while our rural folks have to pay through their noses,” Meghalaya Mahila Congress president Joplyn Shylla said.
She also said that despite the hardships faced by employees, the MeECL management seems “obliged” to grant a contract of supply for computer machines, printers, scanners, power banks, UPS, chairs, tables for a so-called work station from two private companies — SRIT India Pvt Limited (Bangalore) and Satnam Global Infra Projects Limited (Delhi) in September 2020 with a period of six months to complete installation of the hardware etc.
“The cost and type of equipment given has been inflated to suit the financial needs of those involved in this scam. It is nothing less than to be called by a carefully crafted scam in the name of office renovation,” Shylla said.
The Meghalaya Mahila Congress president also demanded investigation by police into this entire episode of wastage of public money by those involved in the MeECL management.
“If Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Power Minister James Sangma are serious in their words they should address the issues of the employees and look into the over-inflated amount of purchase by the management of MeECL which is on the verge of collapse,” Shylla said.
