CM introduces amendments
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Monday introduced amendments to the Meghalaya Value Added Tax 2003 and Meghalaya Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act 2006 on the floor of the House.
It may be mentioned that the 14th Finance Commission (2015-2020) has recommended the state to amend the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act 2006 to ensure that the state’s revenue surplus is maintained throughout the award period of the 14th Finance Commission and also to maintain the fiscal deficit to an annual limit of 3% of GSDP during the award period of the 14th Finance Commission.
The recommendation was given to maintain a ceiling on the sanction of new capital works to three times of the annual budget provision.
Three penalized for denying information under RTI
SHILLONG: The State Information Commission had imposed penalty on three Public Information Officers and public authorities for not providing information to applicants under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, last year.
This was revealed in the 9th annual report of the Meghalaya Information Commission which was tabled on the floor of the Assembly on Monday.
As per the report, a penalty of Rs.7500 was imposed on I.G. Momin, Sub Divisional School Education Officer and Joint District Mission Coordinator, Dadenggre.
The penalty was awarded based on the complaint of one Starmeth A Sangma from Phulbari.
The Commission also imposed a penalty of Rs.1250 on Pradeep Kumar, Headmaster of Thangbuli UP School, West Jaintia Hills, for not providing the required information to one Dimimemon Tariang from the same village.
Pilot R Marak, Extra Assistant Commissioner of South Garo Hills, was asked to pay a penalty of Rs.6500 by the State Information Commission for not providing information to one Rakran R Marak, secretary of Achik Youth Federation.
As per the annual report, the Information Commission received 11 complaints in 2006 out of which 9 were disposed of.
In 2007, the Commission received 39 complaints out of which 38 were disposed of; in 2008 36 out of 37 complaints were addressed; while in 2009, the Commission received 47 complaints and settled 45 complaints. In 2010, 32 cases out of 41 were disposed of; in 2011 all 31 complaints received were disposed of and in 2012, 39 out of 43 cases were disposed.
Again in 2013, all 32 complaints received were disposed of while in 2014, 25 out of 27 cases were settled by the Commission.
Roshan allays BSF shooting range fears
SHILLONG: Home Minister Roshan Warjri has assured the House that the department would take steps to ensure that residents are not affected by the firing range set up by the BSF in Tura.
During the Question Hour on Monday, Independent legislator John Leslee K Sangma sought the intervention of the Government into the “threat to life and property being faced by the people of Balsrigittim, Dobasipara and Tura” due to the presence of the firing range of BSF in the middle of the residential area at Dobasipara.
However, the Minister said that no untoward incidents were reported since the setting up of the firing range way back in 1996.
After the legislator insisted that officers should be deputed for a spot visit, the Minister assured to examine the matter.