Strapped KHADC to stop Wahumkhrah cleaning
SHILLONG: A strong civic sense should be inculcated to ensure that the Wahumkhrah does not get polluted, said UDP’s Ricky Shullai as he announced that the KHADC will stop cleaning the river due to fund crunch.
Voicing this at the Winter Session of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Wednesday, Executive Member and UDP MDC Shullai said, “At the end of the day, there is a need for civic sense.”
Shullai was replying to a supplementary query raised by People’s Democratic Front (PDF) MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit on cleaning the river.
He said the river was cleaned in which JCB was used, signboard was erected, gloves were purchased and T-shirts were made and it entailed huge expenditure but “the Wahumkhrah is back to square one”.
With no adequate fund to clean the Wahumkhrah, the Executive Committee of the KHADC has decided to stop implementing the schemes to clean the river.
“We checked the financial status and found that there is no fund left for cleaning the river. So we have to remove the eight employees tasked with cleaning it,” Shullai said.
Raising a supplementary query, Basaiawmoit asked whether there are any ways and means to reinstate the employees, Shullai said the committee will find ways to get financial assistance.
Over Rs 7 crore professional tax collected in 2017-18
SHILLONG: KHADC Executive Member Ricky Shullai on Wednesday, informed that the professional tax collected for the year 2017-18 has amounted to Rs 7,99,51,923.
As the KHADC does not collect the tax from hawkers in and around Iewduh, MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri has raised the question as to why the hawkers have been singled out to which Shullai replied by stating that it would prove to be problematic for the KHADC staff to assess hawkers as they do not have a permanent trading spot.
“Hawkers do not have a permanent place to do business. It would be unwise if we collect professional tax from them. Collecting professional tax from hawkers is a matter which needs thorough discussion in the Executive Committee,” said Shullai.
The agenda of lawyers not paying professional tax was also raised in which Shullai said that the matter will be examined. Shullai informed that a letter was sent to the Bar Court back in 2014 regarding the matter which has till date remained unanswered.
Responding to People’s Democratic Front MDC Hadrian Lyngdoh’s question on whether teachers should be subjected to professional tax, Shullai said: “These (the teachers) are the ones who teach our children. We should not harass the teachers.”
With the entire House roaring with laughter at Shullai’s reply, KHADC CEM HS Shylla intervened by stating that teachers would indeed have to pay professional tax.
“What was said by EM is his opinion about teachers. The teachers have to pay a small amount,” said Shylla.
‘KHADC should follow up on Sixth Schedule Amendment’
SHILLONG: Former CEM KHADC and People’s Democratic Front (PDF) MDC PN Syiem said that the Executive Committee (EC) of the KHADC should follow up on the status of the Amendment of the Sixth Schedule.
Syiem moved a motion to discuss on the policies of the EC to protect and safeguard the identity and interest of tribal people as per provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
According to Syiem, if the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution fails, the ‘jaitbynriew’ also fails.
Stating that the EC of the KHADC will take the matter seriously, KHADC CEM HS Shylla said that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma recently assured that 99 percent of the suggestions on the amendment to the Sixth Schedule have been accepted.
Drug menace raised in House
SHILLONG: The growing drug menace in the state was one of the main issues which was raised in the Winter Session of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Wednesday.
Replying to the motion brought forth by MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri, KHADC CEM HS Shylla said that the matter had been discussed during a meeting of traditional chiefs on October 3 and that the Executive Committee (EC) will take up the matter seriously.
Moving the motion, Kharpuri said that the Dorbar Shnong should be vigilant while also expressing concern on the lack of proper rehabilitation centers.
Supporting the motion, Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) MDC Adelbert Nongrum said that medication and counseling for drug addicts are the essential needs of the hour.
Bills of MDC schemes to come under GST
SHILLONG: The Bills of MDC schemes fall within the purview of the GST Act if the total value of the work executed by the contractor exceeds Rs 2,50,000, said Deputy CEM Teilinia Thangkhiew during the Winter Session of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Wednesday.
Thangkhiew also informed that works executed by the local committee/managing committee are exempted from the purview of the GST Act.
In reply to a supplementary query raised by People’s Democratic Front (PDF) leader James Basaiawmoit, Thangkhiew said that the KHADC had received directions from the state government and the Department of District Council Affairs to include MDC schemes within the purview of GST Act.
Over Rs 1 crore Council Fund misappropriated
SHILLONG: The misappropriated amount is Rs 1 crore 54 lakh and not Rs 2 crore, said Former KHADC CEM PN Syiem in reply to Nongshken MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri’s question regarding the status of the case relating to the misappropriation of Rs 2 crore from Professional Tax.
Syiem said that the misappropriation is from the Council funds and not professional tax and urged the Executive Committee (EC) to expedite the matter.
Shylla assured that the EC will follow up on the matter and will correct the exact amount.
BSF noise pollution irks KHADC
SHILLONG: The Executive Committee (EC) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Wednesday informed that it will write to the state government and the BSF authorities with regard to the noise pollution during BSF training.
In reply to a motion brought forward by People’s Democratic Front (PDF) MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit, KHADC CEM HS Shylla said that The Maneuvers Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act, 1938 is also included in United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Application of Laws) Regulation, 1952.
Basaiawmoit said that the firing would continue for 20-30 minutes causing inconvenience to nearby residents and school students.