Exposing yet another scam in the State, the Trinamool Congress today tore into the NPP-led government for the Meghalaya Land Scam in Mawpdang in the New Shillong area involving financial discrepancies amounting to over Rs 140 crore.
The revelations were made during a press conference held at the State Trinamool Congress party office here by the party’s legislature party leader Dr. Mukul Sangma.
He said that the MDA government purchased a land of around 807 acres from the residents of Mawkhanu village in Mawpdang at the rate of Rs 45 per square feet for which the government ultimately paid to the middlemen, a very highly inflated rate of Rs 85 per square feet.
Dr. Sangma also accused Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Revenue Minister Kyrmen Shylla, and Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar of being involved in this “criminal conspiracy to rob the State of such a huge amount of money” in connivance with middlemen.
“The MDA – which I will refer as Meghalaya Deceitful Alliance – has once again engaged in the modus operandi of looting the State through purchase of around 807 acres of land in Mawkhanu village of Mawpdang. The government had the middleman purchase the land, dupe the innocent landowners and villagers at the throwaway price of Rs 45 per square feet, and then made a payment of Rs 85 per square feet to the middleman,” Dr. Sangma said.
“The rates were decided by the cabinet on the 4th October, 2021. The Minister for Urban Affairs piloted this proposal and it was appropriately approved by the Department of Revenue. All cabinet items are approved by the Chief Minister. Therefore, the documents show that the three persons – the Chief Minister, Revenue Minister, and Urban Affairs Minister – have entered into a criminal conspiracy to rob the State of such a huge amount of money – Rs 140 crore – which could have been given to the innocent land owners,” Dr. Sangma added.
Slamming the Conrad Sangma-led MDA government for robbing poor people of their lands, Dr. Sangma said that the Central government must take cognisance of the matter.
“While addressing an election rally, Union Home Minister Amit Shah went hammer and tongs alleging that the State is active in corruption. He referred to Meghalaya as the number one corrupt State in the country. I would urge him to take immediate cognisance of this alleged corruption. Let there be an immediate investigation into this massive land scam,” Dr. Sangma said.
The Leader of Opposition also stated that the Meghalaya Land Scam is only an addition to the increasing instances of graft executed by the NPP-led government, including scams such as the Saubhagya Scam, Smart Meter Scam, and Assembly Dome Collapse Scam.
He also said that the government was answerable to the people for buying land at extremely inflated rates when the villagers had sold their ancestral property for half the amount.
“The land scam is reflective of what is going on in the State. We have seen how corruption has crippled various countries. I wanted to urge the people of Meghalaya to come together and rescue the State from the hands of the people who are responsible for making us the infamous State for being number one in corruption,” Dr. Sangma said.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress today also installed a digital countdown clock at the party office indicating that the end is near for the NPP-led MDA government in Meghalaya.
Stating that the clock that has been set to the vote counting day scheduled on March 2, Dr. Sangma said, “The time is ticking. The day is not far that Meghalaya will be free from this corrupt government, and we will restore the name, fame and past glory of this beautiful State.”
