By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 27: The BJP has accused the NPP-led MDA Government of making attempts to seize control of the three autonomous district councils in the state under the pretext of financial mismanagement particularly in the GHADC.
“The state government wants to gain control since the three ADCs have collectively submitted a proposal worth of Rs 8,877.51 crore under the 16th Finance Commission (2026–2031),” BJP leader and Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak claimed on Wednesday.
He revealed that the proposal includes a significant allocation Rs 5,042.30 crore for GHADC, Rs 264.54 crore for KHADC and Rs 1,019.60 crore for JHADC, and an additional 2% contingency amounting to nearly Rs 174 crore.
According to him, the councils have clearly proposed salary components in the fund, meaning they can become self-sufficient and no longer dependent on the state government.
Meanwhile, he said that the councils have approached the Centre for direct disbursement through the Ministry of DoNER or the North Eastern Council (NEC).
He claimed that the state government wanted to control this flow of funds and therefore they have been in constant touch with the Union Minister of DoNER in this regard.
It may be noted that the state cabinet on Tuesday approved the government’s proposal to take over the salary burden of the three ADCs, but with a clear condition that such support must be tied to financial reforms.
The government has underlined that the scheme will remain optional, leaving each council free to either accept the aid or refuse it altogether.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma explained that the move stemmed from the worsening financial situation in the ADCs, which has affected their functioning.
To take the process forward, three sub-committees will be set up to hold consultations with the councils in the next 45 days, after which the government will decide on the final framework, he said.
The move has drawn criticism, with the HSPDP expressing apprehension that allowing the state government to pay council employees’ salaries could undermine the autonomy guaranteed to the ADCs under the Sixth Schedule.
HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem went further, accusing the government of using the move for political gain, especially with GHADC elections expected early next year.
Synrem warned that the state’s involvement could lead to council employees being answerable to the government rather than the councils.
FKJGP Garo Hills Zone president Pritam Arengh echoed similar concerns, stating that while the government may have good intentions, the move could weaken the councils’ autonomy.
He linked the move to the broader context of the pending 125th Amendment Bill, which proposes greater autonomy for ADCs, including the direct routing of central schemes such as MGNREGS through them.
Arengh warned that the state government has already taken over some subjects originally under the councils, such as primary education and sanitation, and this latest development could be another step in that direction.