Cong demands hike in central grant allotment

SHILLONG: Financial affairs in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) have cropped up again as the Congress MDCs have asked Chief Executive Member (CEM) Teinwell Dkhar to enhance the grant to Rs 1.5 crore from Rs 50 lakh.
They even alleged that some members of the ruling party are not aware of the decision of the Executive Committee (EC) to allot only Rs 50 lakh each.
The Congress MDCs submitted a letter to Dkhar regarding the grants provided by the Centre under the Special Assistance scheme in which Rs 52 crore is distributed by the District Council among the MDCs at the rate of Rs 50 lakh each.
The Congress MDCs, who are in the opposition in the KHADC, have urged the CEM and the EC that each MDC should be allotted Rs 1.5 crore.
Speaking to reporters, Leader of Opposition in the KHADC and Congress MDC Lamphrang Blah on Wednesday expressed concern over the allotment of only Rs 50 lakh by the KHADC EC for each MDC.
Fund from the central government sanctioned is Rs 52 crore out of which Rs 34 crore was received by the District Council. According to the Congress MDCs, out of the Rs 52 crore sanctioned by the Centre, the MDCs should get Rs 1.5 crore each.
Citing that they have responsibility towards the welfare of their constituents since many of them come from rural constituencies, the Congress MDCs have decided to demand the hike in the allotment of the central grant.
Expressing disagreement to the decision of the EC to allot Rs 50 lakh, Blah said they have asked the EC to review the matter. Dkhar informed them that it was a collective decision and he will look into it.
Similarly, spokesperson of Congress Parliamentary Party, Ronnie Lyngdoh said, “Though the CEM said it was a collective decision, some of the UDA (United Democratic Alliance) members are also unaware about the decision. So even in the ruling party, there are some who are not aware of the decision of the EC.”
“Only a few took the decision,” he remarked.
Lyngdoh said to implement the fund, there has to be District Council level committee headed by the CEM along with other members of the District Council and departmental heads.
He said, “The District Council level committee was also not constituted. The committee will recommend to the EC for approving schemes.”
He alleged that the CEM said more funds will be allotted to the ruling MDCs while less amount will be distributed to the MDCs in the opposition.
Dkhar reiterated that the EC of KHADC will stick to allotment of Rs 50 lakh.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he said the Congress MDCs met him to demand enhancement of the allotment of grant to Rs 1.5 crore from Rs 50 lakh.
The Executive Committee (EC) member, Titosstarwell Chyne said the Centre sanctioned Rs 52 crore but the Council received only Rs 34 crore.
Responding to the allegation by the Congress that some members of the ruling United Democratic Alliance are not aware of the decision to allot Rs 50 lakh to each MDC, Dkhar said, “There is no such allegation.”
He added that another meeting of the UDA will be held to clear doubts.