KHADC CEM welcomes NITI Aayog guidelines
SHILLONG: The government constituted State Level Committee (SLC) and the State government shall examine and process grant approval to the concerned ADC within 30 days of the receipt of the proposals from the ADCs, says the NITI Aayog guidelines framed for the utilization of the special assistance of Rs 1000 crore granted to the ADCs of four Northeastern states.
Speaking to reporters on the implementation modalities, KHADC CEM P.N. Syiem on Tuesday welcomed the AITI Aayog guidelines, saying, “The recommendations of the District Council Level Committee (DCLC) headed by the CEM shall be approved by the Executive Committee of the ADC and shall be recommended to the State Level Committee (SLC) for consideration and final approval which will have to be within 30 days.”
Elaborating on the guidelines on submission of Utilization Certificates, the NITI Aayog has stipulated that the State government shall spend and utilize the fund released to them in 2015-16 by September 30, 2016 and shall furnish the utilization certificates (financial and physical) to the NITI Aayog in the prescribed format by October 31, 2016.
The three ADCs of the State have received Rs 267.40 crore with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council getting Rs 133.12 crore, JHADC getting Rs 33.57 crore and the GHADC receiving Rs 100.71 crore.
“The guidelines seem to favour the District Council as the Council has a lot of advantage,” Syiem said, adding, “The schemes will have to be approved by the State government within 30 days and cannot be delayed.”
The District Council Level Committee will be headed by the CEM and the strength of the Committee will range between 5-10 members.
Further the guidelines stated that the grants provided are intended to be used to support and strengthen the basic amenities including water supply, sanitation including septic management, sewage and solid waste management, maintenance of community assets, maintenance of roads, footpaths, street-lighting, burial and cremation grounds, storm water drainage and the subjects assigned by the concerned State governments through legislation.
The guidelines of the special assistance further added that the District Council Level Monitoring and Review Committee headed by the CEM and comprising of all members the ADC along with the various departmental heads and the concerned local MLAs and MPs will be constituted by the ADC for conducting regular monitoring and review of implementation of the projects.