SHILLONG, July 8: The Executive Committee (EC) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has already appointed a one-man tribunal to ensure early disposing of cases relating to boundary disputes between different Sirdarship/Elakas and villages within the jurisdiction of the Council.
While replying to the question raised by Opposition leader in the Council PN Syiem during the Question Hour on the final day of the summer session of the KHADC, EM in-charge Elaka Administration Jambor War informed that they had appointed a one-man tribunal after amending the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Administration of Elaka) Act, 2021.
He also informed that out of 29 such cases of boundary disputes, the one-man tribunal has disposed of seven cases whilst 22 are pending.
War also attributed the delay in disposing of such cases to COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier, Syiem had raised concern on the number of pending cases of boundary dispute in the district council and had suggested the Council to direct the EC to have legal experts to assist the one-man tribunal in speedy dispose of such cases.
Royalty share
Meanwhile, while replying to a question raised by Congress MDC Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, Deputy CEM in-charge of Finance department Gigur Myrthong informed that the share of royalty from major minerals received by the KHADC is Rs 1.90 crore and Rs 21.83 crore for 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 respectively.
Myrthong informed that no amount was released by the state government for 2020-2021. With regard to minor minerals, he informed that Rs 26.13 crore and Rs 20 crore were received by the KHADC for 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 respectively.
No amount was received on the share of royalty from minor minerals in 2019-2020, Myrthong added.
Tree felling
Meanwhile, KHADC CEM Titosstarwell Chyne, in a reply to a question raised by Nongstoin MDC Gabriel Wahlang, informed that a total number of 316 and 135 trees were felled in2021-2022 and 2022-2023 respectively.
He also informed that a total of 16 numbers of clearance certificate were issued by the Forest department of the Council for establishment of coke factory.