SHILLONG, April 20: The state government on Tuesday reiterated that the autonomous district councils (ADCs), facing financial difficulties, should sort out their own problems.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters that it is not the state government’s responsibility to solve the financial problems of the ADCs. He said the onus lies on them and their Executive Committee (EC).
The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has for long found itself in a financial mess. It has not been able to pay the salaries of its employees for several months together.
Advising the ADCs to be strict with their revenue, Tynsong said the problem of the GHADC and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council is that their monthly revenue collection is Rs 1-1.5 crore but expenditure on salaries is Rs 3 crore.
Earlier, he had said the government is clearing the dues of the ADCs in instalments of 50-60 per cent and it is an ongoing process.
To a query, the Deputy CM said the new EC of the GHADC will implement the common minimum programme. He said he cannot comment more on it before the election of the new Chief Executive Member and the EC.
He denied the BJP’s charge that the National People’s Party misled the Governor, stating the Constitution is very clear and according to it, a simple majority is required for the formation of the EC in the ADCs. “You can constitute the EC if you have the support of more than 50 per cent of the members. The same rule applies during the formation of a government,” Tynsong said.
He expressed ignorance about any court order that said 17 is the magic number for forming an EC in the Council.
