Meghalaya govt incurred expenditure of Rs 240 crore during COVID second wave: CM

By Daiaphira Kharsati 

SHILLONG:

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, on Friday, informed that the state has incurred expenditure amounting to Rs 240 crores during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing a press conference here in the city, he said, “For this second wave 2021-22, there has been an expenditure of approximately Rs 240 crores," adding that the amount has been spend on equipment such as pre-fab structures, oxygen cylinders, masks and PPEs oxygen concentrators etc.

While giving details about the expenditure, the Chief Minister also informed that about 80 per cent of the health workers have been vaccinated so far.

The Chief Minister requested elected members to be responsible towards the people during the times when the state is going through a critical COVID situation.

“There are some elected members who have openly criticised and not promoted the vaccination programme. As elected members, we have a responsibility to ensure that our people are protected. I would urge these members who are unnecessarily creating confusion among the people that please act responsibly,” he said.

Inquiry committee on MeECL

Sangma has informed that the Independent Inquiry Committee set up to inquire about the MeECL imbroglio will likely have its first virtual meeting on Monday or Tuesday.

To a question on the removal of Power Minister James Sangma, the Chief Minister stated that the committee is independent, and there is no question of removal of Power Minister James Sangma.

“This committee is completely independent in nature and MeECL is an autonomous body so, from the government side, there is no interference even in the day-to-day functioning. MeECL functions as an autonomous body and the question of removing the Power Minister from his portfolio does not arise."

Giving details about the proposed inquiry, he informed that there is a stipulated time given to the committee to complete the inquiry, and they must function as per the Terms of Reference (ToR).

He informed that the independent inquiry committee comprising of three experts namely retired judge of Allahabad High Court Justice Ifaqat Ali Khan, Retired IAS Manoj Kumar, and retired Executive Director of Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) Sunil Kumar will inquire into the allegations of corruption levelled against the MeECL.

On the other hand, the CM has also informed that he has ordered a single-member independent inquiry into the ICDS scam.

The CM has asked the Chief Secretary to find names of retired judges of High Courts. The single-member committee, once formed, should be able to submit the report in three months.

(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)

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