By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 10: The state Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the proposal of dissolving the Meghalaya State Housing Board.
The dissolution will entail a settlement of Rs 7.42 crore for 18 employees of the board who will be given the golden handshake, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
He said the dissolution of the largely inactive board, set up to avail loans from different agencies, was on the anvil for more than a decade. He also said the government was examining the probability of closing down other non-functional PSUs.
The Cabinet decision follows the departmental inquiry initiated by the Housing Department in June after a complaint from the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) regarding the supply of substandard corrugated aluminium roofing sheets to the C&RD blocks across the state.
The HYC alleged that the sheets provided by the Kolkata-based Hariana Iron Works Pvt. Ltd were unsuitable for use. It has been demanding an immediate halt to the distribution of the defective roofing sheets and their recall from all the blocks.
The Cabinet also cleared a proposal for one-time payment for petrol pumps in Meghalaya to clear their arrears under the Meghalaya Taxation Act on VAT and sales tax.
The chief minister said the settlement scheme was proposed as the interest on dues of some of the petrol pumps was piling up. These petrol pumps will be given the option to clear their arrears in instalments based on their pending amount.
The Meghalaya government has to collect a tax of Rs 38 crore including Rs 3 crore interest from the petrol pumps.
The Cabinet also cleared a scheme initiated by the central government for financial support to the BPL and poor prisoners who cannot get bail and other payment-related matters. All states in the country have to implement the central scheme compulsorily.
The Cabinet approved the revised rates for land in the New Shillong Township and the Mawkhanu area. The land rates were finalised for state and central departments and private parties. The chief minister said that the government expects to earn a large premium from the decision to set up a base rate to provide land to the agencies.
The Cabinet also strategised an SOP to ensure that all exams for recruitment, declaration of results, and advertisements of vacancies are done at a specific time. It further decided that all promotions would be done within specific timelines.
The Cabinet also decided to revise the Meghalaya Day award from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh and to make the application process online.