Titos seeks CM nod to utilise central funds

SHILLONG, Jan 13: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) CEM Titos Chyne has beseeched Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to give the green light to the District Council to utilise the funds from 15th Finance Commission and not to divert them to other departments.
Speaking to the reporters on Wednesday, Chyne said, “There is a technical problem as the money mentioned in the 15th Finance Commission should be used for water and sanitation programmes. The government is seeking clarification from the Ministry (of Jal Shakti) if it can release the funds to the district councils or local rural bodies as recommendation by finance commission”.
Maintaining that the funds are meant for the district councils and they should not be diverted, Chyne said a meeting between the district council, the Director of JJM and the Finance department will be held. Only recently, the opposition MDCs in the KHADC had met Chyne to confer about the decision of the government to allow PHE department to implement the Tied Grants from the 15th Finance Commission, which are allotted to the autonomous district councils.