Meghalaya: TURA MDC  Bernard N Marak Has Alleged Misappropriation Of Central Government Funds.

Tuta, Meghalaya; June 2026: Tura MDC Bernard N Marak has today (June 08th 2026) alleged that funds from the 15th Finance Commission meant for rural and urban local bodies (RLBs and ULBs) were “misutilised as party funds” by ruling parties in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).

In a statement, Marak said the GHADC “contravened guidelines by allocating work to party affiliates who failed to submit utilisation certificates, thereby jeopardising funds meant for RLBs and ULBs”.

He said that following a tripartite agreement to strengthen autonomous district councils, the GHADC received “substantial funds from the Centre but failed to submit utilisation certificates for tied and untied funds”, This, he claimed, led to “the withholding of over Rs 245 crore for the GHADC, impacting all other ADC-related funds. Intended for RLBs and ULBs, these funds were instead issued to contractors predominantly affiliated with the ruling parties”, Marak has alleged.

Citing Tura constituency, he said “95% of the work was allocated to inexperienced contractors without the concerned MDC’s knowledge, leading to fund misuse and misappropriation and failure to issue UCs. Partial utilisation of funds for public projects occurred in Garo Hills”, he added, but “the allocated funds far exceeded the minimal work done, benefitting party affiliates benefitting lakhs and in previous projects even up to crores rather than local bodies for whom the funds were meant”.

Marak further said “even the funds sanctioned through special packages in 2015-16 remain in gross mystery as projects disappeared from site and abandoned mercilessly. The traditional bodies are left with zero benefit while immature party men misuse the fund openly”, he said. “Most contractors failed to complete the work, preventing timely issuance of utilisation certificates to authorities and severely impacting fund flow from the Centre to GHADC”.

Central funds meant for the ⁠Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) have faced severe, rampant misappropriation, triggering ongoing investigations by the Meghalaya Lokayukts.

Key controversies and official inquiries into the fund misuse include:

The Rs 100.71 Crore Special Grant: A Rs 100.71 crore special package granted in 2015-2016 for regional development has been the central point of contention. An inquiry wing of the Lokayukta found prima facie evidence of irregularities, siphoning, and ghost projects, leading to charge sheets being filed against former MDCs and contractors in the Special Court.

15th Finance Commission Grants: Central grants meant for Rural and Urban Local Bodies were allegedly diverted to pay pending salaries of council staff rather than being used for infrastructure. Leaders such as BJP MDC Bernard Marak and Opposition Leader Dr. Mukul Sangma have alleged that developmental schemes in the Garo Hills were heavily duplicated or abandoned, and unspent funds or utilization certificates were mismanaged.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Scams: Civil society organizations and youth forums have also raised alarms over the misuse of central funds in ⁠Jal Jeevan Mission drinking water projects in the South Garo Hills, alleging fake reporting and financial malpractice. As these investigations remain active, political groups continue to demand independent audits and full accountability for the vanished funds.

Team Maverick.