SHILLONG: The Chief Executive Members (CEMs) of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) met the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to apprise him of the share of royalty on major minerals between the councils and the state government.
The CEM of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), HS Shylla told reporters on Thursday, “We have submitted before him the ruling of the High Court in 1993where the Court passed an order in which it was mentioned that share of royalty from minerals should be 60 per cent for the District Council and 40 per cent for the state government.”
He said, “As of now, the share is 25 per cent for District Council and 75 per cent for the government. WE have submitted the Ruling of the High Court on royalty sharing from major minerals to the CM and he will study that.”
Shylla also pointed out the need to have thorough review of the functioning of all the ADCs and their relationship with the state government. He added that pending bills of the ADCs would be discussed in the review meeting.
“The Chief Minister has agreed to have a meeting after the Assembly session is over,” he said.
Speaking of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Shylla said at the review meeting, the GHADC codification of Garo Customary Law Bill 2009 passed on March 29, 2017 would be discussed and take up the issue about the former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma returning the Bill directly, which Shylla termed as illegal.
“The Chief Minister cannot do that. It is the Governor who will return the Bill and not the Chief Minister,” he said.
The CEM of GHADC, Dipul Marak said the Bill was passed but the state government had not forwarded to the Governor but returned to the District Councils. The Bills also contains a clause which bars Garo women from marrying non-tribals.
The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) is on the process to pass a Bill similar to the Khasi Lineage Bill of the KHADC.
The CEMs said all the three district councils were on the same line having passed the second amendment Bill and JHADC was on the process to pass the same bill.
Regarding the issue of pending salary of the Council, Marak apprised the present financial situation of the GHADC and the CM assured that he would look into the matter so that the financial position could be strengthened.
Marak said, “Around Rs 80 crore will be required to clear pending salaries the CEM and staff of the (GHDAC) for the last 17 months.”
The total number of staff in the GHADC is more than 2000 which has put the GHADC in a sticky wicket. “This is the main factor why we could not clear our salaries,” Marak said.
When asked whether there is any plan to reduce the strength of the staff, he said “After we sit with the state government and what the state government suggests, we will follow it up.
Asked about the staff strength, the CEMs of JHADC and KHADC informed that their staff strength is 1700 and less than 700 respectively.
When asked how the non-tribals employees were allowed in the GHADC, Marak said, “At present I cannot say anything about that because it will be after the amendment of the Sixth Schedule.”