SHILLONG: Former Chief Minister DD Lapang has admitted that the State government has been slow while responding to demand for passing of the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2014.
Lapang, who is also the Chief Adviser to the State Government, said that he is aware that the delay in the passing of the Bill has created a hue and cry.
Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Lapang said that he had already spoken to the District Council Affairs Minister HDR Lyngdoh regarding May 27 meeting with the CEMs of both KHADC and JHADC.
The meeting is scheduled to discuss two Bills passed by both the Councils to empower the Rangbah Shnong and traditional institutions.
“The meeting is likely to take the final call on the fate of two Bills after a detailed discussion,” Lapang said quoting Lyngdoh.
He, however, refused to commit anything as far as passing of the two Bills is concerned. According to the former Chief Minister, if there is no major deficiency in the two Bills then the Government can immediately approve them. “There is always a scope of bringing amendments to improve it at any point of time,” he added.
While supporting the decision of the Government to promulgate an ordinance on the issue, he said, “The Government cannot just close its eyes. It has brought this ordinance to provide an interim relief to the traditional institutions”.
“The ordinance can be dropped and changed anytime since it was adopted to bring the present situation under control. We do not want the headmen to become non-functional,” he said.
Informing about the present status of the ordinance, he said that it is still awaiting the approval of the Governor.
