By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has earned a meager amount of Rs 500 as revenue from a check post along the Assam-Meghalaya border which is being manned by 15 employees of the Council.
This shocking fact came to light on Friday during the ongoing Summer Session of the KHADC.
Executive Member in charge Elaka, Lamphrang Blah, shocked everyone present in the House when he informed during Question Hour on Friday that 15 people were manning the check gate located at 14th Mile Northern Range near Khanapara which generated revenue of only Rs 500 in the last fiscal.
Defending the deputation of such a large number of people in one check gate, Blah said that the primary reason for keeping so many people at this check gate is because it is located close to the border with Assam.
“Many vehicles move at a high speed to avoid this check gate since they know it is very close to Assam. Our people have to chase these vehicles to compel them to pay royalty to the Council,” Blah said.
The EM in charge Elaka, however, failed to come up with a reply when some MDCs raised objections saying that the revenue collection had not improved despite the fact that the check gate was manned by so many people.
“We have issued a clear cut directive to the employees attached to this check gate to take steps to improve the revenue collection,” Blah replied to queries from the members.
When the MDCS questioned the zero revenue collection from the check gate at Umling Beat House in the last fiscal, Blah informed that they have not indicated the figure since the employees attached to the beat house were yet to deposit the amount collected as revenue.
Mawthengkut MDC FK Ryntathiang (UDP), however, rubbished the reply saying that the check gate employees had to deposit the amount collected before March.
In reply, Blah said that the staff have been asked to deposit the money at the earliest failing which their salaries would be withheld.
