Tura MP to apprise MoS Finance of demonetisation impact in GH
TURA: With no end in sight to the ongoing demonetisation exercise in the country and the fast approaching festival season of Christmas, which is the biggest celebration in the Garo Hills region and the entire north east, Tura MP Conrad K Sangma is planning to apprise the Union Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal of the difficulties being faced by the people during an upcoming meeting with a delegation of GHADC members.
The Tura MP is leading a delegation from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to a meeting with Meghwal to seek a bailout package for the oldest autonomous body which is reeling under a severe financial crunch and salaries of employees have been due for several months.
“I am concerned over the demonetisation effect with Christmas round the corner since it is the biggest festival in Garo Hills. I will be briefing the minister about the situation and urge upon the government to do something to mitigate the problem at the earliest,” said the Tura Lok Sabha MP.
He added that regular discussions have been taking place on the demonetisation issue with Central ministers and Union government officials and a regular briefing is being taken on the money position with the deputy commissioners and the State Bank of India officials of Garo Hills.
The meeting between the Union Minister of State with the GHADC delegation is to seek ways for a bailout package for the council to pay its several hundred employees their several months’ dues.
The recent release of Rs 100.74 crore given as a onetime package to the council was for developmental projects. It was also mired in controversy with opposition and pressure groups alleging misappropriation of the funds by the ruling side. The Council delegation from Garo Hills scheduled to meet the Union minister on Wednesday includes GHADC Chairman Boston Ch Marak, Executive Member and BJP MDC Kuros Marak and GNC MDC Winnison Marak.
The district council is seeking approximately Rs 60 crore from the Centre as a onetime package to clear the remaining 8 months of salary dues of its employees and cite the NGT ban as one of the causes for the financial crunch. “Before the NGT ban the GHADC was receiving substantial revenue as royalty fees for minerals extracted by the state. The ban on coal mining has resulted in a severe loss to the council and wiped out the revenue collection,” said CEM Denang T Sangma.
“Despite the financial crunch and the advance withdrawal of our revenue share by the last Congress Executive committee in the GHADC, we have been able to clear the salary dues of eleven months since the time of our taking over the district council,” claimed the CEM.
The NPP-GNC-BJP led Garo Hills Progressive Alliance took over the running of the GHADC post their surprise victory in the council elections in October, last year.