TURA: The Farmers’ Association of Adokgre in North Garo Hills has resented the settlement of ‘Phul Jharu Mahal’ by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to a private individual allegedly at a meager rate.
In a memorandum submitted to GHADC CEM, Dipul R Marak on Wednesday, the association stated that earlier too, the GHADC had monopolized the broomstick market in Garo Hills and it was doing the same thing again by settling the phul jharu mahal to an individual which it said is unacceptable.
“Appointment of a Mahalder is a diversion from normal procedure of the Forest Royalty collection. When the Forest Department of the GHADC collects Royalty, Kharkutta range alone submitted an amount of Rs 6,70,000/- as Royalty for the years 2017-18. Whereas, GHADC has settled the phul jharu mahal to an individual for a meager Rs 3,41,000/- for the entire district of North Garo Hills. Where is the logic in this?” they asked.
The association while also pointing out that the KHADC levies a mere Rs 0.60 per Kg on dried broomstick urged the GHADC to reduce royalty on broomstick in garo Hills from Rs 2/- per Kg to Rs 1/- per Kg, adding it would not hesitate to take to the streets if the demand is not met.
