SHILLONG, JUNE 6 — In a scathing attack on the alleged financial irregularities surrounding the Ganol Hydro Electric Project, Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma has called for an immediate independent inquiry, including a social audit, to investigate what he described as a possible misuse of public funds and abuse of authority. Amid surging scrutiny over infrastructure projects in Meghalaya, Sangma’s demand underscores growing concerns over transparency, accountability, and governance failures that have marred key development initiatives in the state.
Sangma said the staggering escalation in the project cost over the years—rising from ₹356.43 crore in 2014 to ₹590.88 crore in 2025—is “deeply questionable” and reeks of “manipulation.” “Definitely, that (scam) cannot be ruled out, that’s why there has to be an investigation. I have every reason at least to doubt the integrity in as far as this escalation and expenditure that has been incurred,” he stated.
The project, conceptualised in 2007, underwent multiple cost revisions: ₹356.43 crore in 2014 after changes in land acquisition laws; ₹507.71 crore in 2019 citing quantity hikes; ₹535 crore in 2023; and finally, a sharp rise to ₹590.88 crore in 2025. Sangma pointed out that the same contractor who agreed to ₹356.43 crore had continued implementation without objection, but after the incumbent government assumed office, a “new opening” suddenly allowed the contractor to petition for inflated costs.
“That means there’s a need to find out what is the modus operandi that has been scripted and adopted to convince the authorities in such a manner that the ₹356.43 crore project, which was almost on the verge of completion, was revised to ₹507 crores. Look at the jump—it’s not just 10 percent or 20 percent. Then ₹507.71 crore was again revised by the incumbent government in 2019, to ₹535 crore in 2023. And now, almost ₹600 crore. As though the government is flushed with money, as though this money is falling down from the Heaven,” he said.
Sangma emphasized that such decisions must be subjected to legislative scrutiny and cannot bypass the democratic process. “Every penny which is to be spent from the public exchequer has to be voted on the floor of the August House. That is how our democracy works, that is our system. And this system—how they are trying to manipulate and somehow manage to get away—I will say this is nothing but an exercise of the government, the people in authority, to engage in this trial balloon exercise. It is a trial balloon to see whether people react or not.”
He urged for a social audit to instill public confidence and to ensure no authority can misuse power unchecked. “In respect of Ganol Power project, there must be social auditing done in order to instill confidence, in order to enlighten people to see that no authority can abuse or misuse their power to bleed the state exchequer to the extent of a very astonishing figure.”
Asserting that safeguarding public interest must remain paramount, Sangma said, “Every individual, every elected representative and people who have assumed upon themselves the responsibility of serving the people, serving the state must also assume the responsibility of protecting the state, protecting the interest of the people and we have to do that.”
When asked about potential collusion between politicians and contractors, Sangma said only a thorough investigation can reveal the truth. “The outcome of an independent enquiry shall give us the clarity. Therefore, the need for an enquiry. There must be an enquiry because we have tried to find out all the factors that have been weaponised to justify these projected escalation of cost.”
With mounting public pressure and suspicions of a scam, Dr. Sangma’s demand for accountability could become a litmus test for the state government’s commitment to transparency and ethical governance.
