SHILLONG: On Day-2 of the Budget Session of the KHADC, the House discussed the state of financial positions of the autonomous district councils (ADCs) across the state particularly their inability to meet the salary demand of the staff.
It transpired during the heated debate between the Congress MDCs and the treasury that KHADC’s monthly salary liability had soared to Rs 4.5 crore.
The opposition tried to grill the ruling side for taking measures to bring about financial discipline in the system.
To work out a common strategy, the Council decided to hold a meeting with the JHADC and GHADC on June 29.
During the question hour of the Council on Thursday, a series of queries were put forward, which mostly revolved around finance.
Congress MDC Ronnie Lyngdoh, referring to the imbroglio in the JHADC and GHADC, wherein the employees protested over unpaid salaries, questioned on the amount spent by the KHADC on staff salaries.
While stressing in the House that the KHADC should not tumble down to the condition of the JHADC or GHADC, Lyngdoh unsparingly said that the “Deputy CEM is a renowned businessman and knows how to make monetary arrangements”.
It may be mentioned that the JHADC staff protested over unpaid salaries of over seven months, while the GHADC employees agitated over being bereft of salaries for over two years.
To the Congress MDC’s query on expenditure related to staff salaries, the Deputy CEM informed that the amount spent is Rs 4.5 crore in one month.
Assuring that the financial position of the KHADC will be improved, the deputy CEM G. Myrthong further said that the Council will find ways and means to generate more revenue.
The deputy CEM also informed that the total amount of revenue collected during 2019-20 is Rs 17.87 crore.
Meanwhile, responding to a supplementary query posed by Independent MDC, PN Syiem, he said that Rs 25.54 lakh was from land revenue while Rs 2.35 crore was from forest department.
On the revenue from mineral, Myrthong informed that major mineral contributed Rs 1.53 crore and minor mineral Rs 5 crore.
Replying to another round of questions, Myrthong informed the Council that the KHADC has not received all shares due from the state government till date.
With regard to coal, it was informed that the ratio of coal is 25:75 (25 for the Council and 75 for state government) and major/minor mineral ratio is 60:40 (60 for Council and 40 for state government).
Session briefs
Timber auction
Executive Member in charge of Forest, Macdalyn Sawkmie Mawlong informed that the Council earned revenue of Rs 1.6 lakh from auction of timber from the Council plantations. Replying to a supplementary query, he said that the KHADC has 12 plantations.
Farmers
Executive Member in charge of Market, Grace Mary Kharpuri said that the department will find ways and means to ease the plight of the farmers. She said that the KHADC has no authority to regulate the price of agricultural products but it has the authority to issue permission to set up markets.