JHADC wants mineral royalty share to be doubled

JOWAI: The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) will ask the state government to increase its share of royalty on minerals to 50 per cent from the existing 25 per cent.
The chief executive member of the JHADC, Thombor Shiwat, said during the council’s budget presentation on Wednesday that the executive committee will approach the government for revised royalty share.
Shiwat informed that the main sources of revenue are royalty from minor and major minerals like limestone and coal.
At present, JHADC’s share is 25 percent and “the state government is enjoying a lion’s share of 75 percent for major minerals and 40:60 percent for minor minerals”, he added.
The council chief pointed out that with the NGT ban on coal mining, royalty has come down to Rs 42.89 crore from Rs 48.12 crore in 2018-19. The royalty share collected from minor minerals has also come down to Rs 11.85 crore from Rs 29.48 crore. Shiwat tabled a deficit budget of Rs 168.7 crore (Rs 168,67,37, 500) for the financial year 2019-20. It aims to collect revenue of Rs 148.7 crore (Rs 148,67,41,200).
The CEM informed that the deficit is less than the last budget, which has come to Rs 21.68 crore. The budget estimate includes payment of arrear to the district council staff.
The JHADC will soon amend the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Village and Town Administration Act, 1974, for granting permission for building houses in scheduled areas.
New deputy chairman
Mukhla Wahiajer MDC Ailad Bhoi has been elected the new JHADC deputy chairman.
Chairman of the council Lakhon Biam announced Bhoi’s name during the budget session on Wednesday.
Bhoi is a first-time MDC who took over the seat from former Congress MDC and defeated the NPP candidate from Wahiajer village. He was elected as Independent candidate in the February council elections.