Injudicious selection of the site for setting up of modern and hygienic fish market at Saiden, Nongpoh has led to non-utilisation even after more than three years of completion, resulting in idle expenditure of Rs 1.44 crore.
This was revealed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its latest report for 2020-22.
The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) had approved Rs 1.64 crore in December 2015 for construction of a modern and hygienic fish market at the village with a fund sharing ratio of 55:45 between the board and Meghalaya government.
The dorbar shnong had handed over an area of 2,902.50 sqm for the project, the agreement which was entered on July 12, 2019 with the Department of Fisheries. As per the agreement, the fish market, on completion was to be handed over to the dorbar shnong for its operational expenses and maintenance, etc.
Though the fish market was inaugurated on August 17, 2018 it was handed over to the executive committee of the dorbar shnong of Saiden almost a year after its inaugural, on July 12, 2019.
Reasons for delay in handing over the market complex to the Dorbar Shnong, as per the MoA were not available on record though the department stated that the delay in handing over the market complex was delay in installation of transformer and water pump.
The report said the fish market, which is 6.2 kms away from Nongpoh main market, was done without any feasibility study and this has resulted in low footfall at the fish market.
The CAG report said the Director of Fisheries also failed to furnish any recorded evidence of joint survey or spot inspection or review meetings with stakeholders which suggests that no feasibility study was conducted by the department and the land provided free of cost by the dorbar shnong was the only criteria for selection of the site for construction of a modern fish market.
The objective of the project was to improve the livelihood of the fish farmers of the State by providing proper storage facilities and hygienic fish market for selling the harvested fish.
“This has defeated the main objective of providing a modern and hygienic market for fish farmers for marketing their produce,” the report added.
