CAG flags Rs 1.07 crore misuse in Meghalaya’s disaster relief fund
Guwahati: Meghalaya’s Revenue and Disaster Management Department is under scrutiny after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) flagged misuse of Rs 1.07 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to compensate victims of illegal coal mining, which violates established rules.
The 2023 audit report, presented in the Assembly on February 27, reveals that payments were made in July 2019. These included Rs 16.50 lakh distributed among 14 deceased and five injured persons from Mengkulgittim in Rongsa Awe village, South Garo Hills.
Another Rs 90 lakh was allocated to 18 families of miners killed at Ksan coal mines in East Jaintia Hills, at a rate of Rs 5 lakh per beneficiary.
The CAG noted that providing relief to 37 individuals linked to illegal mining directly contradicts SDRF guidelines. Coal mining in Meghalaya has been prohibited by the National Green Tribunal since April 17, 2014.
The department justified the payouts by citing flood damage from heavy rains and stated it would seek approval from the State Executive Committee (SEC). The CAG, however, dismissed this argument, clarifying that the SEC does not have the authority to validate expenditures made in support of activities deemed illegal by the NGT.
Officials suggest that the CAG could also investigate compensation promised to families affected by illegal mining at Mynsngat-Thangsko on February 5 this year.
The audit further identified broader mismanagement, noting that Rs 8.10 crore from the SDRF was spent on events not officially notified, such as heavy rainfall, strong winds, thunderstorms, and hailstorms. According to guidelines, SDRF is intended only for specific disasters like cyclones, floods, earthquakes, and landslides.
The report also pointed out delays of 9–12 months in releasing payments and 15 instances where sanctions were recorded under incorrect categories. While the department plans to correct terminology in coordination with deputy commissioners, the CAG criticised the lack of proper checks: “The audit shows that the Department did not properly verify whether the relief fund disbursements complied with established guidelines before approving them.”