SHILLONG:Chairman of Ka Dorbar Ki Khlieh Nongsynshar Ka Ri Hynniewtrep, John Kharshiing has urged the 15 MDCs of Hima Mylliem to constitute a committee of MDCs to review Mylliem Act 2007-2008 Admin Rule 2015 and Act 1959 so as to empower the citizens.
In a statement issued here, Kharshiing met Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Executive Members, Paul Lyngdoh and Teibor Pathaw to apprise them of the lacuna existing in KHADC Mylliem Acts 2007, 2008, Rules 2015 and the 1959 Act.
Kharshiing stated an example wherein while the Mylliem Act 2007 required the Syiem and Dorbar to convene the Dorbar Hima at least once a year which has not happened till date.
He said there was no clarity in the provisions and procedures which enables citizens or the KHADC to convene the Dorbar Hima in presence of u khun u hajar (the public) which is the Apex decision making body of the Hima Mylliem.
Kharshiing pointed out that till date since last two decades no annual Dorbar Hima was convened and no accounts and reports read or circulated to the citizens (u khun u hajar) with the excuse was that there was a new Acting Syiem.
He said the convening of the Dorbar Hima along with u khun u hajar is imperative for the functioning of governance at the grassroots level.
Further, he said there are also cases where some of the Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Raid including the ruling clans (Myntri, Basan, Lyngdoh) do not convene their respective annual Dorbar to submit reports before their citizens while provisions state that the annual Dorbar Shnong must be convened once a year and all audited statements submitted before the Dorbar.
Kharshiing said to resolve the issues of governance KHADC MDCs and the State MLAs must have the political will to finalize the structure of governance to empower the people which would require positive amendments to the Mylliem Acts 2007 and Rules 2015 to ensure that all anomalies are removed and provisions are complied with as per law.
Another example of overlapping authorities is the issue of Harijan Colony wherein he said that there are two documents laying claim to the land at Harijan Colony, the one producing Hima Mylliem documents. He asserted that such flaws are serious examples of collapse of governance due to non-convening of Dorbar Hima.
Further in matters of Trade, Kharshiing said the Dorbar Shnong in their own wisdom continue to issue NOC due to absence of a Dorbar Hima policy.
According to him, Dorbar Hima Mylliem should have initiated discussions as to how many localities will be allowed to become commercial and which localities will be strictly residential and or where will we have sports grounds.
Again in the absence of Dorbar Hima Mylliem which is the Apex decision making body comprising of citizens (u khun u hajar) the entire Shillong city is becoming a “iew duh”.
“If KHADC and State Government do not wake up many important towns and junctions such as Mawlai-Mawiong, Nongstoin, Kynshi, Lad-Nongkrem, Smit, Mylliem Bah, Lai Mer, Rynjah, Lad Pohkseh, Nongthymmai, Madanryting, Sohiong, Mairang, Mawngap, Mawkyrwat, Patharkhmah, Mawhati, Bhoirymbong, Mawryngkneng, Jowai, Khliehriat, Lad Rymbai, Dawki, will all turn into ‘iewduh and khyndai lad’,” he said.
We expect both the elected MDC & MLA representatives of Hima Mylliem to jointly discuss how to stop the mushrooming and opening of commercial trade establishments all over the place.