SHILLONG: The Opposition on Thursday urged the Executive Committee (EC) of KHADC to revive the Monolith Festival which aimed to showcase the rich culture and tradition of the Khasis.
“The Council intended to make the festival an annual event. But sadly the previous EC decided to do away with the festival following the alleged misappropriation of funds in the implementation of the Khasi Heritage Village project at Sacred Groves, Mawphlang,” Congress MDC from Mawkynrew, Banteidor Lyngdoh said during the Question Hour on the fourth day of the Council’s budget session here on Thursday.
He said that that the controversy over the Khasi Heritage Village has nothing to do with the festival as the two are separate issues.
Supporting Lyngdoh, Laitumkhrah Congress MDC Antonio War said that the Monolith Festival should be revived at any cost. “The festival has managed to catch the imagination of the local people… there is no justification in scrapping this festival,” War said.
In reply, Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM) in charge Art and Culture, Teinwell Dkhar said that the EC has no intention to scrap the Monolith Festival.
“We are still planning to hold the festival but due to some unavoidable circumstances, the process is being delayed,” Dkhar said.
