By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 4: The newly elected KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM), Winston Tony Lyngdoh, has said that once the new Executive Committee (EC) is fully constituted, it will take up the matter with the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) to ensure that tenders for the construction of roads, footpaths, and drains in several urban KHADC constituencies are put on hold.
“We are aware of the problems faced by many MDCs from urban constituencies. In fact, the previous CEM, Shemborlang Rynjah, had already directed officials to take up the matter with the SMB after the MDCs representing urban constituencies brought the issue to his notice,” Lyngdoh stated.
He further said that the new EC will ensure that the SMB halts the tendering process, as the schemes funded under the 15th Finance Commission were specifically meant for areas under the jurisdiction of the KHADC.
Earlier, Laban-Mawprem independent MDC Ricky Shullai had criticised the SMB for floating tenders to construct roads, footpaths, and drains in several urban KHADC constituencies, calling the move a violation of the Sixth Schedule.
Shullai had said it was unprecedented for the municipal board to implement schemes meant for urban MDC constituencies that fall under the Sixth Schedule areas. He revealed that he had come across an SMB tender that included the construction of a motorable road and drain under the Jaiaw MDC constituency, as well as footpath and drain works in the Mawkhar–Pynthorumkhrah, Laban–Mawprem, and Laitumkhrah–Malki MDC constituencies.
Echoing similar concerns, three Voice of the People Party (VPP) MDCs in the KHADC also accused the SMB of bypassing them by issuing tenders for works in their respective constituencies without any consultation. Those raising the objection include Mawkhar–Pynthorumkhrah MDC and Council Chairman Strongpillar Kharjana, Malki–Laitumkhrah MDC Deity H. Majaw, and Jaiaw MDC Denzil R. Chen, who claimed that they had originally proposed these schemes for budget allocation under the 15th Finance Commission.
However, when the tenders were issued by the SMB, the MDCs said they were not informed, indicating that the Board had bypassed them entirely.
Kharjana further pointed out that the funds earmarked for urban schemes are significantly smaller compared to those allotted for rural projects. He also questioned why the same yardstick was not applied to MLA schemes, since those funds are also released by the state government.
The KHADC Chairman clarified that the MDCs are not opposed to the development schemes themselves, but to the manner in which the tenders were floated without consulting them, despite the works falling within their respective constituencies.
It may be mentioned that the Shillong Municipal Board issued the tender on August 27, 2025, for works including the construction of motorable roads, drains, footpaths, and other infrastructure within the constituencies of Jaiaw, Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah, Laban-Mawprem, and Laitumkhrah-Malki.
