SHILLONG, July 27: The Khasi Hills National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has urged the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to scrap the work orders issued for the operation of trade check gates and instead, invite open tenders to ensure transparency in the award of contracts.
In a representation submitted to KHADC Chief Executive Member Winston Tony Lyngdoh on Monday, KHNAM working president Thomas Passah alleged that the council continued to award the operation of trade check gates to private parties without floating tenders.
He said that through an RTI application filed in 2025, the party found that the KHADC Trade Department allotted 10 check gates to private operators without issuing any Notice Inviting Tender. At the time, the council justified the decision, saying there was insufficient time to float tenders, an explanation which KHNAM had accepted, expecting the practice to be corrected in future.
However, he said that another RTI application filed in July this year revealed that the council awarded contracts for 11 check gates through the Trade Department without inviting tenders.
According to the representation, work orders were issued for check gates at Mawshynrut, Athiabari, and Nongprut in West Khasi Hills, Bangli and Borsora in South West Khasi Hills, Mawiong Khri in Eastern West Khasi Hills, Umiam, Byrnihat, and Baridua in Ri-Bhoi, Majai and Mawryngkneng in East Khasi Hills between October 2025 and June 2026.
Passah expressed surprise that the council neither issued public notices nor floated tenders for the operation of the check gates despite a year having passed since the issue was first raised.
He further alleged that, apart from the check gates, various contract works, including supply and repair works, were being awarded to private parties without following the tendering process. Claiming that previous Executive Committees ignored repeated representations on the issue, Passah urged the present Executive Committee to match its commitment to transparent governance with concrete action. He demanded that all existing work orders for the check gates be cancelled and fresh open tenders be invited not only for all check gates but also for contract works undertaken by the council. According to him, such a move would ensure equal opportunities for indigenous people to participate in the bidding process and help usher in a transparent and accountable system of governance in the KHADC.
