Meet to review JNNURM buses operation

SHILLONG, NOV 1: Urban Affairs Minister Ronnie V Lyngdoh said he will soon convene a review meeting to find out the reason behind the decision to terminate state-own Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) from operating the JNNURM buses.

The minister is also contemplating to take action against those involved in terminating on the ground that there has been no violation against the agreement by the MTC.

“When there was no violation (by the MTC) why it was terminated – these things we will look into during the upcoming review meeting,” Lyngdoh told reporters on Tuesday.

Wondering why a senior most government official was not favouring a PSU, the minister said, “We will also find out what had transpired that led to handing over the operation to the Self Help Groups (SHGs) or private operators.”

He was directly referring to the retired addition chief secretary in-charge urban affairs department Prashant Naik.

According to him, Naik had then clarified that the decision to handover the operation of JNNURM buses and also maxi cabs was as per JNNURM guidelines, when enquired by the urban minister during his tenure as a member of the PAC.

Lyngdoh also said that the then urban affairs minister Founder Stone Cajee should have taken action against the government official when he (Naik) had taken a decision on his own with regards to handing over the vehicles for operation.

“I was surprised during the meeting convened by Cajee that a decision was already taken as to whom operation should be given. Even the then minister had questioned how such decision can be taken without his knowledge,” he recalled.

Lyngdoh also admitted that the CAG in its report had even pointed out that the MUDA has incurred huge loss after entering into an agreement with private operators.

The revenue collected was far better when the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) was engaged to run these buses during August 2011 to July 2012.

Asked, the minister warned, “Who was responsible for terminating the agreement with MTC as a minister I will take action against those involved.”-By Our Reporter