Mendipathar MLA Marthon Sangma has been accused of siphoning off funds from the Special Rural Works Programme (SRWP) for his own use to the tune of crores of rupees.
Based on Right to Information (RTI) findings, social activist Tengsimbirth G Momin has filed a complaint with the Lokayukta in this regard.
Addressing the media on behalf of Momin, Advocate AH Hazarika said that his client has filed a complaint with the Lokayukta against this alleged corruption by the people in power that has deprived the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families of their rights.
The scheme saw Rs 1.25 crore sanctioned in December 2018 for 35 projects, including CGI sheets meant for 610 BPL families.
“As per the procedure, the MLA was supposed to provide the list of beneficiaries to the Block Development Officer (BDO) and the BDO has to forward the list to the Chairman of the District Rural Development Agency and after its approval the money was supposed to be sanctioned,” Hazarika said.
However, according to the RTI, no list of beneficiaries was provided but the money was sanctioned for the CGI sheets.
The same was the case, Hazarika added, for an amount of more than Rs 1.36 crore sanctioned in March 2020 where more than Rs 1.11 crore was for the purchase of CGI sheets for the distribution to 600 BPL families.
“The same thing had happened here where the beneficiaries list was missing. Without approval of the BDO and Deputy Commissioner the money cannot be released but it happened anyway,” he alleged.
Similarly, in April 2021, Rs 1.58 crore for 46 projects was sanctioned, including Rs 1.14 crore for CGI sheets for 613 BPL families. Hazarika claimed that the three interested persons are Marthon, the BDO and the DC, who is the Chairman of the DRDA.
Separately, in March 2022, an amount of more than Rs 1.65 crore for 16 projects was sanctioned for the construction of toilets, etc but, on inspection, nothing was done in the field. Hazarika claimed that this was the same for another CGI sheets provision worth more than Rs 1.49 crore and Rs 92.75 lakh for other projects in December 2022.
Hazarika said that it is abundantly clear that the sanctioned amounts were misappropriated.
He further said that his client, Tengsimbirth, has also gone to physically verify other projects like construction of tubewells in Gajingpara village, four seater pedal boats in Jolding lake, market sheds at Jamgoa, urinal sheds at Rejakgittim, etc only to find out nothing has been done for the money that has been drawn.
Marthon responded to the charges through social media, saying on his Facebook page, “Some vested interested persons are furnishing false information against me through the media regarding distribution of CGI sheets under the MLA scheme to tarnish my image before the elections.”
The NPP legislator said that the beneficiary list is being prepared and will be submitted within a few days. However, this still does not answer the claim of Hazarika and his client that the list has to be submitted in advance of the money being withdrawn.
Marthon said that the accusation is “totally false and totally unfounded” and should be withdrawn immediately or he will file a defamation case.
