SHILLONG: KHADC CEM PN Syiem has taken cognizance of the State government’s move to deduct the Council’s shares from major mineral revenue before the by-poll scheduled for December 13.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Friday, Syiem said it is a big problem since the government has written to the Director of Mineral Resources Department and deducted the share for holding elections.
According to Syiem, the system being followed is not a healthy practice but he rued that nothing could be done now since by-polls to the seven vacant seats of KHADC and JHADC are due next month.
Stating that the issue of funding any election pertaining to district councils should be discussed and deliberated, he also informed that the State government has earmarked around Rs 1.8 crore for holding the by-polls for the seven vacant seats.
“It is not a healthy practice and we should adopt a new approach,” Syiem told The Shillong Times.
Earlier, the State government had proposed a total estimate of Rs 2.15 crore for holding the by-elections to the six vacant seats of KHADC and one in JHADC.
The by-election was necessitated after seven MLAs resigned from the post of MDCs of the KHADC and JHADC following the passing of the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) (Amendment) Act, 2015, which seeks to end holding of dual posts by the MLAs, last year.
The six vacant constituencies under KHADC include Nongkrem, Laban-Mawprem, Nongspung-Sohiong, Mairang-Nongkhlaw, Pariong-Mawthadraishan and Rambrai-Jyrngam constituencies. The single vacant seat in JHADC is War-East constituency.
As per the calendar fixed by the State government, the election will be held on December 13 and the counting is scheduled for December 16.
