Shillong: The North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) has claimed to have unearthed evidence of serious financial irregularities committed by Vice-Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla as chairman of the Building Committee.
The Association stated, “Prof. P. S. Shukla and his associate Prof. Sujata Gurudev (whose position is unstatutory, arbitrary and patently irregular going by NEHU Act and Statutes) have apparently chosen firms by nomination to initiate work for NEHU Tura Campus by completely brushing aside all rules and norms of tendering and issuance of work order during the 143rd Building Committee held on October 16 last year.”
NEHUTA president Lakhon Kma alleged that the Building Committee meeting approved the Detailed Project Report for the construction of various projects on the Tura Campus under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) under the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
He said the scheme is an area development programme under which community infrastructure and basic amenities are being created in the identified areas, which is supposed to be implemented under the aegis of a state government or Union Territory (UT).
Kma said that the DPR was surprisingly prepared by the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation Ltd. (MTDCL), which was selected by the Tura Campus as an outsourced agency to carry out the construction of two boys’ hostels, two girls’ hostels, and a 1,000-capacity auditorium on the Tura Campus at a total cost of Rs 92.31 crore.
He questioned how the Building Committee, led by Prof. Shukla, decided to recommend MTDCL, a Manipur-based company, for these projects in Meghalaya.
The NEHUTA president said, “Are there no capable agency in the State of Meghalaya? Did the VC and Building Committee ignore the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution which necessitate the necessary permits to be obtained from the respective District Councils within the State of Meghalaya; Garo Hills Autonomous District Council in this case?”
This strongly suggests discriminatory actions against tribal communities and the state of Meghalaya by Prof. Shukla and his associates, he stated.
“How was the work order issued to Manipur Tourism on 10/9/2024 approved by Prof. Shukla when the Building Committee recommended MTDCL in its meeting held on 16/10/2024. Moreover, the recommendations of the Building Committee have to be first placed and approved by the Executive Council of NEHU whose mandatory meeting has not been held yet,” Kma said.
He questioned where those advertisements had been put, as per Government of India financial rules, it is mandatory to advertise such projects through the Central Public Procurement Portal (CPPP).
“The construction of the Food Testing Laboratory at NEHU Tura Campus to be executed by NEST-IN (TATA Steel Construction Solution Initiative) at the total cost Rs. 1.84 crore. How did the Building Committee approve the drawings, and estimate prepared by NEST-IN to be executed by NEST-IN? Are there no other competent bidders?” Kma asked.
He claimed, “Why was open tender not floated under CPPP portal for giving equal opportunity to all bidders? Why did Prof. P. S. Shukla favoured NESTIN for the project?”
He said the selection of outside agencies such as NEST-IN and MTDCL, Manipur for tendering and execution of work is grave for a central university situated in Meghalaya under the Sixth Schedule.
“In the history of NEHU, such an abrasive, palpably illegal and horrendous act of masterminding of siphoning of developmental funds without following any due process has never happened,” NEHUTA added.
“It all points to how Prof Shukla wants to sell off the Tura campus to private agencies, which are just a few of his most egregious acts to destroy the rights of tribal people and communities of Meghalaya through the NEHU, be it the Shillong or Tura campus,” he said.
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Prof. P. S. Shukla in cahoot with illegally appointed Prof. Sujata Gurudev is blatantly engaged in siphoning off NEHU works to another state or agencies, Kma added.
Notably, Prof Shula has been on an extended earned leave since November 15.
