SHILLONG, July 28: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) asked Trinamool Congress MLA George B Lyngdoh to substantiate his charge that the Council’s indulgence in corrupt practices affected the construction work at the Shillong Airport in Umroi.
“We will not tolerate any attempt to defame the image of the Council. We will not hesitate to take some stern measures if the TMC MLA from Umroi fails to substantiate the allegations of corrupt practices in the Trade department,” KHADC Executive Member in charge of Trade department Rangkynsai Kharbuki said on Thursday.
He denied any corrupt practices in the issuance of trade licences and asked Lyngdoh to come forward with constructive suggestions that will strengthen the Council’s functioning.
Kharbuki said the Council has issued trading licences to many non-tribal contractors and allotted work at the Shillong Airport.
“There are no pending files as far as the Shillong Airport is concerned. He (Lyngdoh) is free to verify from the airport authorities,” Kharbuki said.
He said the department will need to examine before issuing trade licences to any non-tribal contractors.
“We also write to the department concerned if there are local contractors who are taking part in the tender. As per provisions under the United Khasi Jaintia Hills District (Trading by Non-tribals) Regulation, 1954, we cannot issue trading licences to any non-tribals in the trade the tribals are equipped to take up,” Kharbuki said.
Recently, the Trinamool MLA had asked the state government to ensure no authorities can indulge in any corrupt practices while they deal with any construction work at the Shillong Airport.
He said this in the backdrop of the revelation that some KHADC officials had tried to extort the airport authority. The airport operates within the Council’s jurisdiction.
Lyngdoh had said the KHADC can intervene in certain matters but extorting companies and resorting to corrupt practices are not acceptable. The state government should ensure that such corrupt practices are stopped, he insisted.
“There is no issue if the funds go to the coffers of the KHADC legally,” he said.
The extortion issue had come up before the High Court of Meghalaya after it came to light that KHADC officials charge arbitrary license fees besides placing extortion demands.
During a hearing on a PIL, it was pointed out that there is considerable difficulty even in getting supplies for the airport since the bidders are required to obtain a trade licence to be eligible to make a bid.
The Airports Authority of India said complaints were lodged with the state government but to no avail.
The United Khasi Jaintia Hills District (Trading by Non-tribals) Regulation, 1954, states ‘trade’ means any trade or business for profit and includes the exchange of goods or services for other goods or for money which shall include trade as a barber, shoemaker or repairer, furniture maker, automobile maker or repairer including a dealer in spare parts or tubes or tyres and including also any other similar vocations excluding however any service under the government, Union or state, and the term ‘trader’ and ‘trading’ shall be construed accordingly.
Sources said the definition of trade and trading by non-tribal people excludes any service under the government, Union or state, from the purview of these regulations. Hence, any work carried out by the Union or state government shall be naturally exempted from the requirements of the KHADC trading licence.
Meanwhile, Umroi MLA George B. Lyngdoh lamented that the state government never takes the local stakeholders on board while discussing the problems of the Shillong Airport. “Even I, the local MLA, am not taken into confidence on issues related to the airport,” he said.
He said the government boasts of a high number of fliers from the airport but feigns ignorance over the grievances of passengers regarding the public transport system.
