SHILLONG, June 18: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) may seek legal recourse to reclaim the Khasi Traditional Medicine Institute at Lum Sohpetbneng, as the lessee has allegedly failed to make rental payments and operationalise the facility nearly two years after it was handed over.
The issue came to light during the second day of the council’s Summer Session on Thursday when Laban-Mawprem MDC Ricky Shullai raised concerns over the fate of the institute, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 9.47 crore with the objective of promoting and strengthening Khasi traditional herbal medicine.
Chief Executive Member Winston Tony Lyngdoh informed the House that the institute was leased to the Centre of Learning, Knowledge and Services (COLKS) on July 26, 2024, for a period of 20 years at an annual lease amount of Rs 6 lakh. He said the matter was being examined by the Executive Committee (EC).
He expressed disappointment that a major infrastructure project, envisioned as a healing and wellness centre for traditional medicine practitioners, has remained non-functional despite being handed over to a private agency.
According to Lyngdoh, the EC conducted inspections of the facility and found the condition of the infrastructure to be a matter of serious concern. He revealed that the council had not received any revenue from COLKS since the signing of the lease agreement.
He said the council had issued four to five reminders to the proprietor, Vijay Byrsat, asking him to clear the outstanding dues in accordance with the lease agreement.
However, the lessee allegedly failed to respond to the communications or comply with the payment obligations.
Lyngdoh disclosed that during discussions with Byrsat, he had highlighted that the lessee had violated multiple provisions of the agreement, including non-payment of rent. Lyngdoh said he had requested Byrsat to voluntarily hand over the institute back to the council if he was unable to run it.
What further surprised the EC, Lyngdoh said, was that members of the Khasi Traditional Medicine Commission were allegedly unaware of the agreement and had not been consulted before the institute was leased out.
The revelation has raised questions over the manner in which the agreement was executed, with Lyngdoh stating that the matter warrants a closer examination.
He warned that if urgent steps were not taken, the institute could meet the same fate as other abandoned projects of the council. He said the EC wanted to regain control of the facility and make it functional in line with its original objective of serving as a centre for traditional healing and wellness.
“If the lessee fails to hand over the institute voluntarily, the council may be compelled to pursue legal recourse based on the advice of its legal counsel,” Lyngdoh said.
According to him, the EC’s priority is to revive the facility and ensure that it serves the purpose for which it was established.
Raising the issue, Ricky Shullai had expressed disappointment that the project remained non-functional despite being handed over to a private agency.
He alleged that the premises had effectively been abandoned, with no visible activities, no staff presence and no signs that the facility was serving its intended purpose.
“I am disheartened that a project, built with public funds of Rs 9.47 crore, has been leased out for Rs 6 lakh annually, and today, remains isolated and non-functional,” Shullai said.
Leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne sought clarification on whether the council can terminate the agreement through legal means. Lyngdoh replied that he was not in a position to offer a definitive legal opinion and would instead rely on the advice of the council’s legal experts.
