Editor,
I wish to bring to your kind attention, to the urgent attention of the Planning Department, Meghalaya, and all the concerned people of the State about the irrelevance and liability of the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) which was earlier called Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion (IBDLP) when it was first set up in the State by former Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma with all necessary inputs from S M Mishra, the former Commissioner and Principal Secretary of Planning.
IBDLP received huge funds (in terms of crores of rupees to be handled in those days together with the budget cuts from various major line departments) all in the name of boosting livelihood development of the people (stakeholders) at the grassroot levels. The promotion programme suffered some infirmities and was limping initially and also many major line departments were unwilling and discontented with slicing from their budgets to converge with IBDLP.
Initially the IBDLP tried to meet the core objectives of enhancing the livelihood of the people (stakeholders) but as it went along its journey it drifted and slipped. It was accused of being tempted by big funds and making hay while the sun shines. When IBDLP was renamed as Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) it continued to handle huge funds with the help of its partners all in the name of boosting the development of the people (stakeholders) at the grassroot levels.
Though the nomenclature is changed, it is still a hub of different wings and sections with their own work profile and funding components but the entity is still in shambles with the old work culture, style of functioning, habits and is far from any difference. The entity engages all shades and colours of consultants from outside and from the State whose antecedents and experiences are highly questionable and in fact have no capabilities.
Moreover, it was accused that this entity had and still has become the haven or rehabilitation centre of retired government officials who are not satisfied with their pensions but want to enjoy whatever honey is left over in the government beehive.
Not only that, it is also alleged that the entity indulges in rampant corruption and has become a milch cow of the higher ups and those in government authority. It becomes urgent, therefore, to immediately overhaul the entire authority or remove those in higher posts responsible for crippling the MBDA or if the entity is found to be a liability or useless it may also be abolished altogether as its existence is found to be duplicating the functioning of other government agencies/ departments.
