Meghalaya Assembly Public Accounts Committee pulls up state's SPV committee: Lafarge

The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Committee headed by the states chief secretary was constituted as per the ruling of the Supreme Court for implementing various developmental schemes in these areas.

The Meghalaya Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has pulled up the state's SPV committee for its failure to implement Rs 200 crore funded by cement giant Lafarge for socio-economic development of the areas falling close to its mining site at Nongtrai-Shella in East Khasi Hills District.

The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Committee headed by the states chief secretary was constituted as per the ruling of the Supreme Court for implementing various developmental schemes in these areas.

At present, the Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt Ltd is exporting 2 million tonnes of limestone to its cement factory at Chattak in Bangladesh through a 17 km-long cross-border conveyor belt.

Around 53 villages fall under the two constituencies Shella and Mawsynram -- which are beneficiaries of the fund.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, PAC chairman and senior Congress leader Charles Pyngrope said, From the records we have, the amount received by the SPV committee right from 2010-11 till 2018-19 is about Rs 167 crore and they also earned interest of about Rs 34 crores (as they could not implement the schemes at the earliest so the money was lying in the financial institution).

The PAC felt that there was a slight delay in implementing the schemes which would have benefited the tribal population of that area and therefore, we had asked for a clarification as to why the amount has not been spent, he added.

According to Pyngrope, the amount was supposed to be utilized for welfare projects mandated by the Supreme Court which includes development of health, education, economy irrigation, agriculture for the local community and welfare of tribals.

More than Rs 200 crore is in the hands of the SPV and yet they are just sitting idle. Therefore, we from the PAC, would like to see that the money is being utilized meaningfully for the welfare and benefit of the people, PAC member and Congress MLA from Mawsynram HM Shangpliang said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)