“There are many a time when State Government officials complain about delay in release of Central funds. But when I looked into the mater it was found that the State seldom implement the schemes given by New Delhi. I have to regularly intervene in the matter,” said Agatha Sangma.
She revealed that Minister for Rural Development had even asked her as to why implementation of Central schemes in Meghalaya remain poor.
She was addressing a conference of the opposition NCP that took place in South Garo Hills on Saturday. The conference lambasted the ruling Congress in Meghalaya for staking claim to various implementation of schemes that were taken up during the tenure of the NCP-led MPA Government in 2008-2009.
Top leaders of the NCP including Agatha K Sangma, Rajya Sabha MP Thomas A Sangma, Leader of the opposition in the State Assembly Conrad K Sangma and veteran politician from Garo Hills and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma participated in the conference that took place at Sibbari border village of South Garo Hills.
Leader of the opposition and former Finance Minister Conrad K Sangma was the most vocal in his criticism of the Mukul Sangma-led Congress Government in the State.
“Today the Congress Government in the State is boasting of bringing various Central schemes to the State but if you look a little closer you will see that these were schemes we had proposed and forwarded for sanction to the Centre,” said Conrad Sangma.
“Eighty per cent of the Meghalaya Government’s budget is funded by the Centre. Out of Rs 4,000 crores for Meghalaya, Rs 3,500 crore is borne by the Centre”, he said.
He alleged that there is a huge racket in siphoning of Central funds in Meghalaya which is testament to the lack of development of the rural areas despite so much funds being provided by New Delhi.
Purno A Sangma also joined in the criticism for lack of development. He was appalled by the pathetic road condition in South Garo Hills and blamed it on the Mukul Sangma Government for delaying the inauguration of completed roads and bridges so as to take the laurels for work done by his government In 2008-09.