By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 17: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday attributed the clearance of several pending bills to the close coordination between the state government and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
It may be mentioned that both the KHADC and the state government are being led by the National People’s Party (NPP).
“There were around 20 to 30 bills from the KHADC that were pending. Almost all of these have now been cleared,” Sangma said during a gathering held to launch the KHADC’s new research programme.
Highlighting the collaborative relationship between the state government and the KHADC, NPP Supremo Sangma emphasised the mutual respect for each other’s jurisdictions and powers.
“We are ensuring that, under no circumstances, should either entity undermine the other. Differences and clashes are inevitable at times, as both the state and the Council have their own laws. However, we strive to maintain proper communication to address any issues,” he added.
Meanwhile, KHADC Chief Executive Member Pyniaid Sing Syiem acknowledged the challenges faced in obtaining the Governor’s assent for bills passed by the Council. He explained that bills passed by the KHADC must first go through the District Council Affairs (DCA) department. However, many of these bills had been stuck at various stages in the process.
According to Syiem, progress only began after Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong assumed charge of the DCA department.
“We were able to voice our concerns about the bills stuck in limbo. To address these issues, the Deputy Chief Minister constituted an expert committee comprising members from the DCA, the Law Department, and the three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs),” Syiem said.
Since the committee’s formation in 2019, many of the pending bills have been resolved, Syiem added, expressing optimism about the improved coordination and outcomes.
