The Congress today demanded the removal of Power Minister James Sangma from the cabinet in order that there would be no foul play or interference on the proposed independent inquiry into the various scams in the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL).
Welcoming the decision of the State government to institute an independent inquiry into the various corruption and mismanagement in the MeECL, senior Congress legislator Zenith Sangma said, “The present Power Minister should be dropped or he may gracefully resign as minister. Otherwise, he can still influence and there can be foul play and the very purpose of constituting this inquiry commission will be defeated.”
Zenith also said all these scams in MeECL should be investigated specifically. He also said that there is another likely scam taking place in the Power Department in the name of the Self Identified Power Project.
“The Expression of Interest (EOI) for the project has already been floated, which is in a very suspicious manner. During this Covid pandemic, when the inter-state and inter districts movements are restricted, generally people cannot travel to Meghalaya. Therefore competition cannot take place and in the process, pre-selected firms will only be awarded with the project. It can be well understood that there is a malafide intention and is allegedly well-scripted modus operandi of these people who are in helm of affairs, scripted by someone who is from outside. We therefore demand that this EOI should be cancelled immediately in the greater interest of the State,” Zenith said.
Meanwhile, the Congress MLA appreciated the decision of the State government to remove the present MeECL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Arunkumar Kembhavi and replace him with Rebecca Suchiang, a senior and experienced officer who is in the rank of Additional Chief Secretary.
“Hopefully the new CMD will get all the necessary support from the government as well as from within the MeECL and her decision in the State’s interest will get through in the Board of MeECL under her leadership,” Zenith added.
