SHILLONG, June 23: KHADC CEM, Pyniaid Sing Syiem on Friday reiterated that the Council will go hard against illegal non-tribal traders operating their business, whether big or small, without valid trading licences.
“We will close down all the shops or businesses of those who do not have the trading licence. We will not tolerate any non-tribal trader who fails to respect the directive of the Council to obtain trading licence,” the CEM said while adding that the Council’s enforcement wing has been instructed to start checking licences of all non-tribal traders.
Council hikes upper age limit for job applicants
The KHADC on Friday decided to extend the upper age limit for recruitment to various jobs in the Council from 32 years to 37 years.
Speaking to reporters after the first meeting of the EC, Syiem said they are following the order of the state government to extend the upper age limit by five years.
He said the EC will introduce the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Council Service Amendment Rules, 2023 during the ongoing session to increase the upper age limit.
Syiem also said the EC will introduce the KHAD (Protection and Promotion of Khasi Traditional Medicine) (First Amendment) Bill, 2023 by amending Appendix D of the existing bill that relates to issue of certificates to traditional medicinal practitioners.
The amendment seeks to define the personal details of the traditional medicinal practitioner in the certificate.
Syiem also said the EC has decided to put on hold the proposed amendment to the KHAD (Members Pension) Act, 2002, since the Council wants to thoroughly examine the proposed amendment or refer it to a select committee, if the need arises.
KHADC to demand land for relocation
The Council also decided to request the state government to allocate land in New Shillong Township (NST) for relocation of the council office.
Syiem said the existing office at Garikhana is congested and the decision to shift to NST was taken with the aim of creating a bigger space.
“The existing premises house the offices of the Executive, Legislative and the District Council Court. Not only this, we also have the MDC hostel. Therefore, it has become too congested,” the CEM said.
He recalled that the proposal to shift the office to NST was first mooted in 2019 and majority of the members had endorsed the move.
The proposal did not move forward since Governor’s Rule was invoked the same year.
Syiem said the Council will plan how to use the existing premises if the proposal for relocation turns into a reality.
“We can think about developing a market complex since the existing office is in a commercial area. The Council might be able to generate revenue by way of rent on shops and godowns. We will deliberate on this only after the state government agrees to our request to provide land at NST,” he added.
He said a committee will be constituted to prepare a plan on how to approach the state government for allocation of land.