Shillong, Jul 30: The Committee on Public Undertakings of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly today reviewed the status of loan recovery involving public sector undertakings and examine observations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on the implementation of the Saubhagya and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) schemes.
Saubhagya was a central government scheme to provide electricity connections to all un-electrified households, while the DDUGJY was to provide continuous power supply to rural areas.
The meeting was chaired by committee Chairperson Charles Marngar MLA and attended by committee members Banteidor Lyngdoh MLA, Sanjay A Sangma MLA, Subir Marak MLA and Santa Mary Shylla MLA.
Reviewing the loan account of CMJ Breweries Pvt Ltd, the committee noted that loan repayment has remained unsatisfactory. Against a principal loan amount of Rs 61.94 crore, only Rs 23.98 crore has been repaid, while Rs 29 crore remains outstanding. The loan repayment deadline is August 2026. The Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) informed the committee that efforts are being intensified to expedite recovery, while the committee directed the concerned department to submit a detailed report and assured that it would closely monitor the matter.
The committee also reviewed the cases of Greystone Smelters and Greystone Strips Ltd. It was informed that the loans of both companies were written off following approval by the MIDC’s board of directors at its 242nd meeting held on September 24 last year. However, the committee clarified that writing off does not amount to waiving the loan. The management has been directed to continue pursuing recovery and the companies have been given one week to clear their dues.
In other cases, the committee noted that Aura Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd has fully repaid its loan of Rs 51 crore, while the outstanding dues of Badhok Nongmalieh Ford Dealer, Mawiong Rim, have been settled through the transfer of a 43,22,000 sq. ft. property at Kawa Sing, Rani, Ri-Bhoi District.
The committee also examined the CAG’s observations on “Undue Financial Benefit to Contractors under SAUBHAGYA and DDUGJY” contained in the Report of the CAG of India on Social and Economic Sectors for the year ended March 31, 2022.
During the review, the committee observed that payments had been released without proper verification of mandatory insurance documents. The Power Department assured the committee that appropriate action would be initiated against the officials responsible. The committee has directed the department to submit a comprehensive report on the matter within one month.
The committee also took note of concerns raised by members Shylla, Lyngdoh and Sangma regarding the shortage and unavailability of transformers in several areas. The issue was discussed with the Power Department, with members stressing the need for timely availability of transformers to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply across the state.
