SHILLONG: The first day of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) session witnessed a heated debate on the delay in the repair of Nongstoin-Wahkaji road by the council.
A sum of Rs 25crore was sanctioned for the work.
Congress MDC from Langrin, West Khasi Hills and Opposition leader, Manstudy Nongrem argued that the MDCs from West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills were beguiled by the CEM KHADC PN Syiem, asserting that it is “harassment to the people of West and South West Khasi Hills.”
Reacting to this criticism, Syiem said, “There is no difference (in treatment). Have to look at the situation.”
However, Nongrem was adamant and asserted that Syiem should not make false assurances to the people, to which Syiem pointed that Nongrem could have raised the matter with Congress PWD Minister MM Dannggo on why the PWD department has not issued an NOC.
“Does the EC know the rules of the PWD department,” Nongrem said. Syiem then asserted that Nongrem can give his suggestions regarding the matter.
“It is the responsibility of the EC. If you think you
annot handle, resign immediately,” Nongrem said.
Syiem said that the PWD department has denied NOC to the council to repair the road. However, he said the matter would be examined to see what needed to be done.
He further said that the people feel that the council should take up the road repair work and not hand over the funds to PWD as the money sanctioned belonged to the council.
Professional tax
HSPDP MDC Teillinia Thangkhiew has said that leakages of revenue from the professional tax department could be plugged only if the department was computerised.
“Computerisation of the department will bring in transparency in the functioning of the department,” she said.
She asked as to when the executive committee of the People’s Democratic Forum (PDF) would implement the plan to computerise the department
In reply to her query, Syiem said the EC would expedite the plan to computerise the department. “It will be done soon,” he said, without setting any timeframe.
CCTV
On the other hand, Thangkhiew raised concern on indiscriminate littering near the MDC hostel and asked whether closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at the surroundings of the hostel to keep a tab on the culprits.
Stating that littering is a crime, she pointed out that the MDC front gate has not installed any CCTV. Replying to the query, Syiem said there were 16 CCTV cameras installed on the KHADC premises so far.
KHNAM MDC Adelbert Nongrum echoed security concerns and called upon the need to install CCTV cameras to be “safe and secure.”
Replying to the query, Syiem said the matter would be examined even as he recalled the time when unknown miscreants broke the glass windows of the KHADC.
Asked by Nongrem whether the culprits have been arrested, Syiem said, “There are 16 CCTVs which cannot detect all angles. So we will install more.”
