Two pressure groups, the Ri-Bhoi Youth Welfare Organisation (RBYWO) and Confederation of Ri-Bhoi People (CoRP), have claimed that health infrastructure projects in the districts have been subject to gross corruption.
In a joint press statement, the RBYWO and CoRP based their allegations on responses to Right to Information (RTI) inquiries and physical inspections carried out by them.
The supposed large-scale corruption centres on implementation of development projects under the Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project (MHSSP), funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
With an estimated budget of Rs 50 crore the project was aimed at developing civil infrastructure across the state.
The RBYWO and CoRP stated that RTI findings show alarming discrepancies in the awarding of contracts. Some individual contractors were awarded as many as 20 to 60 different projects, ranging from minor works to projects worth several crores of rupees. The estimates for many of these projects, prepared by the Health Engineering Wing (HEW) of the Health Department, were allegedly inflated up to three times the actual cost.
One example cited was the construction of an operating theatre at Bhoirymbong Community Health Centre. According to the HEW Executive Engineer, the estimated cost was Rs 84 lakh, but the final bill paid to the contractor, one BD Marbaniang, amounted to Rs 1,04,76,036.19, exceeding the estimate by nearly Rs 20 lakh.
An on-ground inspection by the two pressure groups, including “assessment by professional architects”, suggests that the actual cost of construction should not have exceeded Rs 25 lakh. They acknowledged that a profit margin is expected for the contractor but the “scale of discrepancy indicates gross misuse of public funds, especially given that the funding was a loan from the ADB.”
Further, they claimed that contracts were allotted unequally. As per the documents obtained, individuals like Syiem received 50–60 separate contracts, sidelining other contractors who remain unemployed.
The organisations are now demanding clarification from the new MHSSP Project Director, Dr NE Kharsohnoh, regarding the construction of the Bhoirymbong operating theatre and the complete renovation of Umsning CHC, a project valued at Rs 4.07 crore. Documents reveal that Rs 1.35 crore has already been disbursed, while construction has only progressed to the ground and first floors, far less than what was sanctioned.
The RBYWO and CoRP have stated that they are currently awaiting an official response from the Project Director. They also urged the state government to initiate a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry, similar to actions taken in Assam, to hold responsible officials accountable.
