Shillong, June 10: Following in the footsteps of its Assam counterpart, the Meghalaya government has decided to rope in private operators to bring the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) back on track. Dubbing the corporation “a white elephant,” Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang told reporters that the cabinet approved the proposal to bring willing private transport operators under the banner of the MTC.
“Nearly 50 per cent of the current staff of the MTC opted for voluntary retirement with the government more than willing to offer the golden handshake,” Lapang said.
The Meghalaya Transport Corporation at present has 618 employees.
The chief minister said while the terms and conditions of the joint venture are being worked out with the private transport operators, the MTC has been entrusted with the task of finalising the deal.
Though Lapang did not specify the transport operators, he said, “The Tatas and other big names would be welcome.”
The Meghalaya government recently announced its plans to call in big names like the Welcomgroup, Oberoi and the Taj to take over some of its sick tourism projects.
However, Lapang categorically said the joint venture with big groups would not be done at the cost of local interest. “We must take care of the local people but at the same time ensure quality services.”
The MTC has been incurring huge losses with the government in a quandary, trying to find a solution to bail itself out of the mess. Lapang was confident that the proposal to revamp the MTC would be beneficial to both the corporation and the private operators.
Currently, the MTC is operating on 24 routes with a fleet of 64 buses and a staff strength of 681. Of the 64 buses, only 54 are in running condition, including 14 engaged in ferrying children to schools.
On leasing land to Lafarge cement company to mine limestone at Nongtrai near the Indo-Bangladesh border, Lapang said the matter has been referred to the cabinet committee on economic affairs. The chief minister said the government was approached to reconsider a proposal to allow Lafarge Surma Limited of Bangladesh to mine limestone on 150 hectares at Nongtrai.
Lafarge has also entered into an agreement with Lum Mawshun Minerals Private Ltd to set up a cement plant in Chattak in Bangladesh, besides floating a 100 per cent subsidiary company under the name, Lafarge Umiam Private Ltd.
The current mining lease holder, Lum Mawshun, has sought the approval of the state government so that it can transfer the land to Lafarge Umiam for mining limestone. In 1998, the state government had agreed in principle to support the project. “When it comes to a sensitive question of transfer of land, we have to ensure that rules are not violated,” Lapang said.