Guwahati: The Meghalaya government has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to explain the alleged construction of a temple within its Mawdiangdiang campus after complaints claimed the structure was being built without the required approval on government-leased land.
The New Shillong Township Development Agency (NSTDA) has written to the Deputy Inspector General and Head of Branch of the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch in Shillong, seeking clarification over the reported construction.
According to the NSTDA, the land was leased to the CBI under an agreement signed on November 14, 2018, exclusively for the development of an office-cum-residential complex.
The agency reminded the CBI that the lease agreement prohibits the construction or alteration of any structure on the leased property without obtaining prior approval. Citing Clause 10 of the agreement, the NSTDA stressed that any such work must receive permission from the agency before it is undertaken.
In its communication, the agency urged the CBI to adhere to the terms and conditions of the lease and take appropriate action if necessary.
The letter, signed by NSTDA Member Secretary and Director of Urban Affairs P. K. Boro, was issued after the agency received representations alleging that the temple was being constructed without mandatory approval from the competent authority, officials said.
The issue has also sparked political debate in the state. The opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) has questioned whether the reported construction violates the lease agreement and has called for appropriate action if any breach of the conditions is established.