Meghalaya State Transport Corporation incurring monthly loss of Rs 27 lakh

SHILLONG, April 3 ? Meghalaya Transport Minister Cyprian R Sangma Tuesday informed the Assembly that the State Transport Corporation was incurring a monthly loss of Rs 27 lakh, reports PTI. Replying to a question of the Opposition member, TH Rangad (BJP), Sangma said the monthly expenditure of the Corporation was Rs 50 lakh, while its earning was Rs 23 lakh, leading to a monthly loss of Rs 27 lakh. The loss was due to the fact that only 51 buses were on the road, while 29 others were lying in the workshop, he said. Besides, high cost of maintenance, high cost of diesel, petrol, lubricants and plying of buses on uneconomic routes, were also other factors of the losses. The corporation had spent Rs 96.26 lakh during 1999-2000 on spare parts, Rs 1,09,46,000 in 2000-2001 and Rs 55.61 lakh during 2001-2002, Sangma said adding Rs 12.56 lakh is yet to be paid to suppliers on that account. In order to improve the financial condition of the Corporation, new recruitment had been stopped and constant monitoring was being done, he added.