Shillong, Jan. 30: Meghalaya chief minister F.A. Khonglam, who is yet to extricate himself from the online lottery and CGI sheets controversies, is now facing the allegation of sitting over official papers resulting in the loss of Rs 100-crore ?incentive fund? provided by the Centre.
Sources said the Khonglam-led state government had lost out on the Rs 100-crore ?incentive fund? as it had ?goofed up? the mandatory memorandum of understanding which it had to sign. The MoU is signed between the state government and the Centre, following which the money is released to the state.
The matter was kept in cold storage by Khonglam?s ministers till recently as they were busy with the five-day-long ?extravagant? Meghalaya Day celebrations at the Polo Grounds. The function cost the state government over Rs 12 lakh.
The sources said the lavish celebrations at a time when the state is going through an acute financial crisis has irked both politicians and government officers. They are now demanding a ?detailed report? of the state?s financial status and an explanation on why the Rs 100-crore ?incentive fund? did not come through.
So far the finance department has been silent on the subject.
Former finance minister A.H. Scott Lyngdoh, who had handled the state?s finances both in the E.K. Mawlong government and in the Khonglam-led Peoples? Forum of Meghalaya (PFM), said if the money had not been released, it would be because of delay in signing the MoU.
?When I was the finance minister, this matter was discussed in the Cabinet several times and we had made the draft. But I do not know what could have happened,? he said.
He expressed doubt about any real initiative from the state government to process the MoU and blamed the chief minister for ?not monitoring the funds.
?Knowing fully well that the financial situation in the state is grave, the delay in signing the MoU and then the extravagant Meghalaya Day celebrations is the height of irresponsibility,? he said.
Scott Lyngdoh, who had been dropped from the PFM for revolting against Khonglam, has also threatened to rekindle the CGI sheets controversy.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which has kept its Sohra seat open for Khonglam, has also criticised him for ?wasting public money?.
The fast-fading popularity of the chief minister has been described by his aides as ?a matter of great concern in his home constituency of Cherrapunjee (Sohra)?.