DONGKAMOKAM, Nov 21 ? It is strange that most of the develop-ment funds released by the Central or State Governments for the development of Karbi Anglong district are being diverted right under the nose of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), to NC Hills. Wozor Mukhrang, joint secretary, United People?s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), expressed his deep concern in a press release.
The release further stated that Khorsing Engti, Chief Executive Member (CEM), KAAC, hardly attends the secretariat office of the Autonomous Council 30 days in a year. He either stays at Howraghat or Guwahati and at times in Diphu. There are allegations of most of the Executive Members (EMs) follow this example set by the CEM.
Mukhrang regretted that while the people of this district are facing a lot of problems yet the CEM or EMs rarely visits other parts of the district except their own constituencies. Due to poor communication network and also because most of the villages are located in interior areas of the district, the people of the western part of the district have to spend two days to reach Diphu ? the headquarters ? to meet the CEM or EMs. But even then they fail to meet the CEM or the EMs.
In the last MAC (Member of Autonomous Council) elections, the present KAAC represen-tatives promised to boost the economic states of the villagers but now they have turned their backs to these poor people, the release added.
It further alleged that even the local youths of the district are not getting jobs. Only those who could grease the palms of the CEM or EMs got jobs in the last appointments. The highest bidders irrespective of whether the candidate hailed from Karbi Anglong or from outside the district usually get appointment letters, it charged. Presently, however, the appointment process in the district is temporarily suspended.
Lamenting the present conditions of the roads, the release stated that once Karbi Anglong was said to be the best maintained district in the State. But at present most of the roads in the district are not only non-motorable but also pose serious threat to the lives of the people.
Mukhrong wondered as to why development funds meant for the district are being diverted to NC Hills and questioned: ?Is it the negligence of the State Government or is it a pretext to take revenge in the previous ASDC Government. Wazaru Muthrang also demanded a white paper on the development funds released to the district. He also alleged that that most of the offices of various departments are not functioning properly.
Mukhrang appealed through his release to the CEM, EMs, officers and employees of the district to be sincere in their duties and to dedicate themselves to the development of the people.