By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has decided to constitute a committee to study the proposed strengthening of the three Autonomous District Councils in the State.
The ten-member committee which would be headed by KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pynshngain N Syiem is expected to be notified by the Executive Committee in the next few days.
“We have decided to constitute a committee to have detailed discussion and analysis on the move of both the Centre and State Government to further empower the three district councils in the State,” Syiem told newsmen after holding a meeting with the MDCs on Thursday.
Lauding the decision of the State Government to empower the KHADC and the JHADC along with the GHADC as per the proposed settlement with the ANVC, Syiem said that this latest initiative would provide huge impetus to the three ADCs since they would have to look after the administration of several new departments.
On the arguments of the ANVC that Municipal Boards in the scheduled areas should be abolished and replaced by Town and Development Committee, Syiem said that such provisions are already there in the Sixth Schedule.
“I am of the view that the Government should encourage the setting up of these town committees outside the European Ward,” the CEM said while also informing that the Council has already started the process of constituting the Town Committee in Sohra as a pilot concept.
“We would like to constitute town committees in various villages and localities under Hima Mylliem and Hima Khyrim in the near future,” he said.
When asked about the intrusion of the Shillong Municipal Board into areas outside the European Ward like in Nongthymmai and Mawlai, he said that the Council is yet to discuss on this issue.
“I personally feel that the respective Dorbar Shnong which does want to be covered under the Municipal Board should come up with a representation to the Council for the constitution of a town committee. We would definitely take cognizance if such representation comes from any Dorbar Shnong,” he said.
Meanwhile, Syiem said that he would to see the State Government allocate special funds to the various traditional institutions like the Dorbar Shnong and Dorbar Hima along with the District Councils in the form of a Five-Year Plan to allow the traditional institutions to initiate various developmental projects in their respective areas.
Syiem also spoke in favour of increasing the strength of the KHADC from the existing 30 members as is being demanded for the GHADC.