Shillong, May 17: Members of the Centre Level Monitoring Committee constituted under the Agreed Text for Settlement (ATS) have alleged duplication and irregularities in certain development projects in Garo Hills following recent inspection visits conducted in West and South West Garo Hills.
According to the ATS signatories, inspections of projects such as the Tribal Research Institute and the Upgradation of Art and Culture Centre uncovered alleged discrepancies involving the proposed Council Museum project.
The committee members claimed that the original museum project had “practically disappeared” from its designated site, while the proposed Art and Culture Centre, initially planned at Dakopgre, was later shifted to Chidekgre and allegedly constructed over a Council Museum site on council-owned land.
They further alleged that the project, reportedly completed up to 90 percent, has neither been officially handed over by the contractor nor by the concerned council authorities.
The ATS signatories stated that the matter may require legal intervention or a Central-level investigation to ascertain the alleged irregularities and accountability in the project implementation.
The monitoring team also reviewed several major projects sanctioned after the 2014 peace agreement signed with the ANVC and ANVC(B) groups.
These include Baljek Airport, the Engineering College at Ampati and the proposed 300-bedded Health Complex, which the committee stated are expected to resume in the coming weeks after remaining abandoned for a prolonged period.
According to the ATS representatives, the Central Government had sanctioned substantial funds to the Autonomous District Councils and the Meghalaya government for projects related to healthcare, education and infrastructure development under the settlement agreement.
The committee stated that although monitoring meetings were held every six months initially, the process was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed only in September last year.
The inspection visits reportedly revealed both progress and challenges, with concerns raised over abandoned projects, delays and alleged substandard workmanship in certain works.
ATS signatories have now called for additional funding support to revive stalled projects and demanded detailed probes into alleged irregularities identified during the inspections.
Further monitoring visits are expected to continue in the remaining districts of Garo Hills, after which a detailed report will reportedly be submitted to the Union Home Ministry.
