SHILLONG: The chief executive member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) P.N Syiem presented a deficit budget of Rs 40,130 for the fiscal year 2017-2018 on Tuesday on the first day of the Council’s budget session.
Presenting the budget speech, he said the total estimated expenditure is Rs 201,59,30,220 while the anticipated revenue collection is Rs 201,58,90,090.
Further in his budget speech, Syiem said the Council Session hall was constructed from the financial assistance of the 13th Finance Commission and that the construction of the legislative building is underway.
“From the monetary assistance of the Special Assistance of Central Plan Scheme, 2015-16, the Executive Committee has started the expansion work of the District Council Court,” he said.
Syiem said the construction of the Council guest house, Khasi Traditional Medicine Institute, Khasi Traditional Museum and others will also start soon.
On the share of the Council and the State Government in terms of taxes on motor vehicles that the Council has received for the year 2016-2017, he said the KHADC is getting a bigger share as the State Government has released the pending share from the fiscal year of 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. In terms of shares in major minerals, the revenue for 2017-2018 has increased as the state government has released the sanction amounting to Rs 19,50,47,790 and he was also informed that the remaining arrear is Rs 16,91,98,380.
Council forms new branches
PN Syiem said that the Executive Committee of the Council will form the Conservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture branch that falls under the Department of Arts and Culture and the promotion of sports under the Youth Affairs Department.
The CEM said another branch, the Special Town and Rural Welfare Programme under the General Administration Department, has been formed to provide assistance to poor families.
Meanwhile, speaking on the revised pay of the Council employees, Syiem said, “The executive committee has a provision in the budget but the pay revision will be implemented after the State Government implements the revised pay (under the 5th Pay Commission).” Referring to pension for ex-MDCs, he said that the Executive Committee has proposed to pay the pension for MDCs from July 2017 and some per cent for their arrear.
“In this connection, we are expecting that the state government should release the amount of money meant for Council from the share of major minerals,” he said.
Syiem informed that the share of revenue of the Council comes from land revenue, royalty from legal timbers, including grants from the State Government for plantation scheme, court fees and sale of forms, Council market at Laitlyngjot and Byrni, trading licence, royalty on share of major and minor minerals, taxes on motor vehicles, taxes on profession, civil works and development, revenue from toll gates, miscellaneous receipts, grant-in-aid for protection of tribal land and interest.
Highlights on the expenditure side of the KHADC include salaries to members of the executive and advisory committees and officers and staff of the Council and salaries for staff in the Law Department, salaries of judicial officers, disbursement of pensions and gratuity, financial assistance to schools, enforcement scheme for protection of Tribal Land and interest.
