Meghalaya COPU seeks report on ₹29 crore CMJ Breweries loan recovery
Synopsis
Meghalaya's legislative watchdog committee has put ₹29 crore in unpaid MIDC dues from CMJ Breweries under formal scrutiny, while simultaneously pressing the Power Department over CAG-flagged irregularities in two flagship rural electrification schemes — a rare dual accountability push that exposes both industrial lending gaps and infrastructure governance failures in the state.
Key Takeaways
The Meghalaya COPU has directed authorities to submit a status report on ₹29 crore in outstanding dues from CMJ Breweries Pvt.
CMJ Breweries availed a loan of ₹61.94 crore and has repaid ₹23.98 crore ; the repayment deadline is August 2026 .
Loans to Greystone Smelters and Greystone Strips Limited were written off in September 2025 , but the committee has ordered recovery proceedings to continue; dues must be cleared within one week .
Aura Hotels and Resorts Pvt.
Ltd. has fully repaid its ₹51 crore loan to the MIDC.
The Power Department has been asked to submit a compliance report within one month over CAG-flagged irregularities in the SAUBHAGYA and DDUGJY rural electrification schemes.
The committee, chaired by legislator Charles Marngar , also flagged a shortage of distribution transformers across parts of Meghalaya .
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly's Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) has directed authorities to submit a detailed status report on the recovery of approximately ₹29 crore in outstanding dues from CMJ Breweries Pvt. Ltd., while also seeking an explanation from the Power Department over irregularities flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in the implementation of two Central rural electrification schemes. The directions were issued during a committee meeting in Shillong on 31 July 2025.
The CMJ Breweries Loan
CMJ Breweries Pvt. Ltd., a prominent industrial unit based in Byrnihat, had availed a loan of ₹61.94 crore from the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for its operations. The company has repaid ₹23.98 crore so far, leaving nearly ₹29 crore outstanding. With the repayment deadline set for August 2026, the MIDC has intensified recovery efforts. The COPU stated it will continue to monitor the matter until the full outstanding amount is cleared.
Written-Off Loans and Recovery Proceedings
The committee also reviewed cases involving Greystone Smelters and Greystone Strips Limited, whose loans had been written off following approval by the MIDC Board of Directors in September 2025. However, the COPU clarified that an accounting write-off does not amount to a waiver of liabilities and instructed management to continue recovery proceedings. Both companies have been asked to clear their outstanding dues within one week.
Settlements and Full Repayments
On a positive note, the committee was informed that Aura Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. has fully repaid its ₹51 crore loan. Additionally, dues from Badhok Nongmalieh Ford Dealer at Mawiong Rim were settled through the transfer of a 43.22 lakh square foot property at Kawa Sing in Ri-Bhoi district.
CAG Findings on Rural Electrification Schemes
The committee, chaired by legislator Charles Marngar, reviewed the CAG report for the financial year ending 31 March 2022 and expressed concern over payments made under the SAUBHAGYA and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) schemes without verification of mandatory insurance-related documents. The Power Department assured the panel that responsibility would be fixed and appropriate action initiated against accountable officials. The department has been directed to submit a detailed compliance report within one month.
Transformer Shortage Flagged
Members also raised concerns over a shortage of distribution transformers in several parts of Meghalaya, urging the Power Department to ensure adequate stock and timely replacement to prevent disruptions in electricity supply. The committee's scrutiny signals a broader push for accountability in the state's public sector financial management, with multiple recovery and compliance deadlines now firmly on record.
Point of View
Yet the matter has only now reached formal committee scrutiny with a deadline already on the horizon. The write-off of Greystone loans, followed immediately by a COPU order to continue recovery, exposes a governance contradiction: boards approve write-offs while oversight bodies insist on pursuit. Without a credible enforcement mechanism, such directives risk becoming procedural exercises rather than genuine accountability.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the outstanding loan amount from CMJ Breweries to MIDC?
CMJ Breweries Pvt. Ltd. owes approximately ₹29 crore to the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) out of an original loan of ₹61.94 crore. The company has repaid ₹23.98 crore so far, with the repayment deadline set for August 2026.
What action has the Meghalaya COPU taken on the CMJ Breweries loan?
The Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) has directed authorities to submit a detailed status report on the recovery process and stated it will keep the matter under scrutiny until the full outstanding amount is recovered.
What CAG irregularities were flagged in Meghalaya's rural electrification schemes?
The CAG, in its report for the financial year ending 31 March 2022, flagged that payments were made under the SAUBHAGYA and DDUGJY schemes without verification of mandatory insurance-related documents. The Power Department has been asked to submit a compliance report within one month.
Were any loans to Meghalaya companies fully repaid or written off?
Aura Hotels and Resorts Pvt. Ltd. fully repaid its ₹51 crore loan. Loans to Greystone Smelters and Greystone Strips Limited were written off by the MIDC Board in September 2025, but the COPU has clarified this does not waive liabilities and has ordered recovery to continue.
Who chaired the COPU meeting that issued these directions?
The meeting was chaired by legislator Charles Marngar. The committee reviewed the financial performance of public sector undertakings and examined CAG audit observations during the session held on 31 July 2025.
