From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: During the question hour, opposition member, Moonlight Pariat questioned the Executive on the procedure of issuing Trading License to non-tribal traders.
The EM Incharge of the Taxation Department, Laitsing Shylla, informed the house that the JHADC through the taxation department, has issued 69 trading license to non-tribal traders in East and West Jaintia hills District within a period of 3 months, from 1st August till 1st November.
According to Shylla, 29 Trading License were issued only in Ladrymbai dongwah, 9 in Ladrymbai B, 3 in Khliehriat, 2 in Thangskai and one each in Sutnga and Dkhiah. The remaining were issued to non-tribal, without proper addresses and places of operation. Nineteen Trading Licenses were issued to traders of the Muslim community, some of river might be doubtful citizens.
After the session, Shylla clarified that all 69 trading licenses were issued when the Khliehtyrshi MDC, Madonbai Rymbai was the EM in-charge of Taxation Department.
Most of these trading licenses were issued for operation of trades, which includes tea-stalls, Restaurants, groceries, Mobile Accessories, Electronics shops, vegetables, Tailoring-cum-readymade clothes which were operated by local indigenous people.
Thirteen trading licenses was issued for the ‘Cement Transporters’, which can be also operated by local trucks.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Pariat expressed deep concerned on the policy of the Lamdibok Sumer led Executive Committee, over the issuance of Trading License to the non-tribal for trades that can easily be operated by local indigenous people.
“It seems that the EC have wrongly interpreted and misused the Trading by Non-Tribal Act, which clearly stated that the issuance of Trading License is to control non-tribal traders from running any kind of business in the Autonomous areas when the tribal or the local people can run such type of business”. Pariat said in anonymity.
In regards to issuance of Pattas, the CEM who is in charge of the department in his reply to Pariat’s question, LB Sumer, he informed the house that 14 pattas were issued to individuals recently within the limestone richest Nongkhlieh Elaka ranging an area from 1000 square metres to 9000 metres.
The JHADC have received an amount of Rs. 7 crore during the period from April 1 to November 1, as royalty share from major mineral products and the same have been utilized. Pariat wanted to know the detail utilization of the amount, but the EM in charge of the Forest Department has put off in providing all the details.