SHILLONG: The Opposition on Friday deplored that no sanction for Youth Affairs department has been made as the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) passed the full budget for 2020-21.
The projected expenditure is Rs 243.72 crore and the estimated revenue generation is around Rs 50,000 less than the expenditure.
During a discussion on the budget, Congress MDC Charles Marngar said that there is no sanction for Youth Affairs department as he expressed concern over the rising substance abuse among people from 14 to 40 years.
Deputy CEM of KHADC, Gigur Myrthong, had tabled a deficit budget of Rs 50,910 for 2020-21 on the first day of the budget session in the Council.
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Regulation and Administration of Land) Regulation, Bill, 2020, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Trading by Non-Tribals) (Tenth Amendment) Regulation, 2020 and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (Solid Waste Management) Bill 2020 were passed on Friday.
Chairman, Pyniaid Syiem, informed that there are 21 questions out of which, 15 were answered.
The session was later prorogued by him.
Border disputes
Veteran politician and UDP MDC Bindo Lanong criticised a section of the organisations who questioned the struggle of the hill state movement leaders as they accepted a “state without proper boundary”.
“Is there any country in the world that does not have boundary problems? India has boundary issues with China and other countries,” he said.
“If we were still under Assam, we would have been nowhere,” he added.
Recalling the meeting of late Captain Williamson Sangma and late BB Lyngdoh with then-Assam Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia, Lanong said, “Saikia had told them: You can keep the documents, I will retain the land”.
He alleged that that there are traditional heads who connived with Assam government and had given away the state’s land to Assam.
