Shillong, Sept 5: Meghalaya Community Participation Bill, 2011 had to be kept in abeyance as the people has opposed it fearing that it will erode the powers and functions of the autonomous district councils created to protect the customs and rights of the indigenous tribals.
An assembly committee report tabled on the first day of the autumn session stated that the bill will be kept in abeyance for further examination as the public needs to be enlightened and clarified on doubts and reservations to the Bill in its present form.
The seven-member assembly select committee is headed by Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh constituted in April last year for conducting a statewide consultation with the stakeholders in all the municipalities ahead of the implementation of the Bill.
By keeping the bill in abeyance, the state government’s intention of conducting election in several municipalities in the state had to be shelved thrice.
Meghalaya government had signed an MoU with the union government that binds it to adhere to the provisions of the 74th Amendment of the Constitution aimed at strengthening municipal governance. However some of the conditions are not applicable in the state which is under the purview of the Sixth Schedule except for certain areas earmarked as European ward.
But in Garo Hills, the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council had granted permission for the constitution of municipal boards – Williamnagar in 1993 and Resubelpara in 1997.- By Our Reporter
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