Newmai News Network Shillong | June 28 The construction of a temporary helipad at Umsawli in 2006 –07 has resulted in the wasteful expenditure of Rs. 42 lakhs for which the state Public Works Department (PWD) has been pulled up on Thursday. “In 2006-07 at Umsawli in New Shillong Township the then HRD minister was supposed to lay the foundation of IIM. A temporary helipad was constructed for the purpose with a cost of over Rs 42 lakh without calling any tender and this has led to wasteful expenditure as the helipad was constructed temporarily on emergency basis,” Public Accounts Committee member, Zenith Sangma informed on Thursday. The helipad constructed on the outskirts of Shillong at Umsawli in New Shillong township for VVIPs to land just for a day to lay the foundation stone of the Indian Institute of Management in 2007, was not utilized for the purpose and even after nine years, the helipad has remained non-utilised. “The PAC observed that the construction of the helipad only for landing of the VVIPs for only a day and non-utilisation of the same for the purpose for which it was constructed rendered the entire expenditure wasteful,” Sangma said. “The helipad was abandon and the PWD department is not in a position to reply to the Public Accounts Committee of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on what happened to the wasteful expenditure made by PWD,” he added. The PAC during its meeting has asked PWD to conduct a study on this and find out if the helipad is worthy of being made permanent.
