Tura, June 6: Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak has alleged large-scale misuse of Central funds within the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), claiming that financial irregularities and non-compliance with government guidelines have pushed the Council towards a serious financial crisis.
In a statement, Marak alleged that funds allocated by the Centre for Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) under the 15th Finance Commission, following the Tripartite Agreement for strengthening Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), were misutilised by the Executive Committee (EC) of the GHADC.
According to Marak, instead of implementing the projects through traditional bodies as envisaged, the funds were allegedly allotted to inexperienced contractors, many of whom failed to complete the sanctioned works. As a result, Utilisation Certificates (UCs) could not be submitted, leading to the withholding of more than ₹200 crore in Central funds meant for the GHADC.
He alleged that the works were largely awarded to contractors affiliated with ruling parties and claimed that in several cases, including in the Tura constituency, projects were sanctioned without the knowledge of the concerned MDC. Marak further alleged that a significant portion of the allocated funds was misappropriated while the actual work on the ground remained incomplete or abandoned.
The MDC also raised concerns over the handling of funds sanctioned under the special package of 2015-16, claiming that several projects either disappeared from project sites or were left unfinished despite substantial financial allocations.
Marak stated that the failure to comply with guidelines and the non-submission of utilisation certificates led to contractors withholding 40 per cent payments, which subsequently attracted GST liabilities to the GHADC. To address the issue, he alleged that the Executive Committee engaged a consultant, whom he described as unqualified, at a cost of ₹8 crore along with a monthly honorarium of ₹2 lakh.
While the EC reportedly claimed that the consultant was appointed to help waive GST penalties, Marak alleged that GST notices and penalties have instead been imposed on contractors, including those linked to MDCs serving in the Executive Committee as well as other contractors.
He further claimed that the traditional local bodies, for whom the funds were originally intended, received little or no benefit from the schemes, while politically connected contractors allegedly profited from the projects.
Marak urged authorities to investigate the alleged irregularities and ensure accountability in the utilisation of public funds, warning that the continued financial mismanagement could have long-term consequences for the functioning of the GHADC and the development of the Garo Hills region.
