Shillong, Sep 22: Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K. Sangma informed on Friday that the government of Meghalaya has appointed 124 consultants for different departments or specific projects.
Stating that a total of Rs 22.56 crore has been paid to all the consultants in this financial year, he said currently, 59 consultants have been appointed specifically for Externally Aided Projects (EAP).
CM said this in the House in his response to a question raised by TMC MLA Miani D Shira concerning the consultants appointed by the government.
Shira further sought clarity: if out of the 124 consultants, 59 are for EAP, what about the remaining 65 consultants if they are for general projects?
Sangma elaborated that the consultants, who are technical experts, are brought in for specific tasks. He further added that they are a contractual team of experts in their field and that they are required in two sections: centrally sponsored schemes and EAPs.
“In both of these categories, the consultants are mandated by the guidelines of the different departments in most cases. In a lot of cases, we have to use their expertise because we would like to move much faster and get their advice,” mentioned the chief minister.
Sangma also informed the House that a project called Unity, for which the Prime Minister is giving a certain amount to every state, Rs 132 crore, has been sanctioned for Meghalaya, and that we are the only three states in the whole country that have managed to do that within a six-month time period. “This is all because we have expert advice and are able to submit proposals on time and receive the funds on time,” explained Sangma.
