TURA, March 30: The GHADC on Wednesday passed a provisional budget of Rs 137.83 crore for the period from April 1, 2022, to July 31, 2022, on the last day of the two-day budget session.
The largest chunk of the budget, an amount of Rs 61.93 crore was allotted to Civil Works, while an amount of Rs 28.8 crore went to Loans and Advances.
On the other hand, Land and Revenue received Rs 5.09 crore, Forest Rs 7.04 crore, Administration of Justice Rs 1.27crore, General Administration Rs 6.03 crore, Rural Development Rs 3.88 crore, Council Transport Rs 1.28 crore, Rural Administration Rs 1.68 crore, Council Printing and Stationary Rs 2.24 crore, Legislative Rs 1.84 crore, Taxation Rs 2.69 crore, Water Works Rs 1.84 crore and Tourism Rs 9.84 crore.
Other departments which received lesser amounts were Agriculture (Rs 79.31 lakh), Relief Works (Rs 63.46 lakh), Finance (Rs 62.70 lakh), and Market (Rs 25.64 lakh).
A discussion on the motion moved by Deputy CEM Nikman Ch Marak for codification of the Garo Customary Law (GCL) also took place during the second half of the Budget Session where the members resolved to involve all clans, Nokmas, mothers and the general citizens.
MDCs from the opposition bench, while fully extending support to the codification of the bill, urged the ruling NPP coalition to take time so that no problem arises and to involve them in their decisions. Suggestions were also made to constitute a committee to scrutinise the bill before it is sent to the Governor for approval.
Similarly, discussions on Tura MDC Bernard N Marak’s motion for reviving rural local bodies under the 15th Finance Commission and the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) report from March 31, 2014 were also held on the last day.
A request was also made to all MDCs of both ruling and the opposition bench by CEM Arbinush R Marak to follow the recommendation of the CAG report.
Earlier, during the first half of the session, queries were raised by the opposition on various issues including the GHADC Guest House in Shillong, which is incomplete, action taken against illegal encroachers, status of the Rs 5.87 Garo documentary film, status of the Solar Park and Battalion Camp in Pedaldoba B Mahal areas besides others.