The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Friday sought the intervention of the Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal for immediate conduct of the recruitment process by the MeECL for the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical/Mechanical), which was pending for last 4 years, and to end rampant corruptions and mismanagements in the corporation.
In a letter to Mondal, Chairman of the KSU Employment Monitoring Cell Reuben Najiar said, “(We) urge you to firstly, initiate the recruitment process for the above cited post(s) and the other vacant post(s) within the four corporations for the smooth functioning of the corporations and also for the youths of the State who has completed their various professional courses and seeking employment opportunities.”
He said the Union expressed its utter dismay over the failure of the MeECL to conduct the personal interview for the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical/ Mechanical) since the year 2019.
The list of the successful candidates of the written test for recruitment to the post of Assistant Engineer (Electrical/ Mechanical) conducted by the MeECL on the 13th of July, 2019 was published on the 19th of August, 2019.
“In this notification, 24 candidates were found eligible for the personal interview to be held on the 26th of August, 2019 but on the 22nd of August, 2019 another notification was published stating that the personal interview for the said post has been postponed till further notification and it has been more than 4 years but the personal interview was never called upon,” Najiar said adding “The Union on the 11th of January, 2024 has written a letter to the Director (Corporate Affairs), MeECL demanding explanation over the prolonged delay of the recruitment process and the Union was livid to learnt that the Corporation has not recruited any person for any permanent post since the year 2019 as they lack financial capacity to pay the employees.”
“Such kinds of shambles justifications cannot be tolerated by the Union and the Corporation cannot hide behind the financial incapability for the failure to recruit the required persons for different posts because over the years the Union has observed the Corporations mismanaging the funds leading to such crisis,” he added.
Further, the Union has also demanded thorough investigation into the alleged rampant corruptions in MePDCL and other corporations.
“…such act of rampant corruptions and mismanagements in MePDCL and other corporations cannot be allowed to be set as precedence and thorough inquiry must be initiated and corrupt officials, stakeholders must be punished in accordance to law,” Najiar said.
He said there are various instances based on the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India 2022-23 where the Corporations could have avoided unnecessary expenditure saving public money and utilizing it for a better purpose.
He said firstly, the injudicious decision of MePDCL for awarding works under SAUBHAGYA to contractors at their quoted rates which incurred an avoidable expenditure of Rs 156.14 crores. This was done against the decision and suggestion of the Cabinet Secretary, Government of India which shows that there are undoubtedly rampant corruptions within the Corporations and perhaps the officials of the State.
Najiar further stated secondly, that the injudicious decision of MePDCL to divert the financial assistance received under UDAY for payment of other loans/liabilities of the company and by investing the balance funds in short term fixed deposits instead of making immediate repayment of the outstanding loan for which the fund was released by the Government, resulted in avoidable expenditure of Rs 2.37 crores towards payment of interest and penal interest.
Thirdly, re-imbursement of insurance charges without obtaining documentary evidence in support thereof, resulted in undue financial benefits to turnkey contractors under DDUGJY and SAUBHAGYA of Rs 1.96 crores.
Fourthly, awards of three works under DDUGJY Phase -I to L2 bidders instead of L1 bidders resulted in avoidable expenditure of Rs 0.90 crores. This was done deliberately by the officials.
“These are some of the key highlights that the Union would like to point out in regards to mismanagement, rampant corruptions within the Corporations leading it to such a state of disarray,” he stated in the letter.
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