SHILLONG, June 18: The Opposition in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Thursday demanded an explanation from the Executive Committee (EC) over the rejection of development projects proposed under the 15th Finance Commission’s tied and untied grants.
Raising the issue during the Council’s Summer Session, Mawshynrut MDC Srally Rashir said members are facing criticism from villagers and Dorbar Shnongs after submitted schemes failed to materialise. Rashir questioned why the EC directed MDCs to submit proposals if the Council was unable to secure fund approvals.
“Our people have been questioning us for over a year. We need to know on what basis the EC asked for these schemes,” Rashir said, urging the EC to press the government for the release of funds.
Responding to the concerns, Executive Member in-charge of Development, Powell Sohklet, admitted that even EC members faced similar backlash. He explained that under 15th Finance Commission guidelines, all proposals must be uploaded to the e-Gram Swaraj portal. However, the Council’s failure to comply with mandatory procedures, including online payment requirements for earlier grants, led to the Ministry’s rejection of the proposals.
Sohklet noted that the Council initially struggled with the new digital system.
With technical assistance from the District Council Affairs Department and the Ministry, the Council finally completed the required online audit process in January this year.
Following this, the Council cleared the second instalment of tied grants for 2021-22, prompting the Centre to release the second instalment of untied grants on February 19.
The Executive Member informed the House that while the State Government issued a sanction letter for Rs 12.15 crore on May 5, the funds have yet to be transferred to the Council. He expressed confidence that with the online system now functional, the Council is better positioned to implement future projects.
