CM to KHADC:Amend bill to become Act

SHILLONG, AUG 31: The state government on Wednesday suggested to KHADC to recall the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2015 and take up necessary measures to amend certain conflicting provisions, which will allow it to become an Act.

The decision was taken after a meeting convened by the chief minister Mukul Sangma on Wednesday with a delegation of the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (SNSBH).

“For the Bill to become an Act, it is necessary for the KHADC to dismantle all those hurdles. Therefore appropriate approach is required for the KHADC by recalling the Bill and take necessary measure to amend it,” Sangma told reporters.

He said the exercise is needed to ensure that the provisions of the Bill in no way is in conflict with the laws passed by the parliament.

Stating that the decision taken today will be communicated to the KHADC by the state government and also the SNSBH, Sangma said, “I have also shared this suggestion to the KHADC chief PN Syiem.”

The chief minister has also informed that the KHADC has also submitted its replies to the 12-point queries raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the VAB today only, which the government is yet to examine.

Earlier, the state Governor V Shanmuganathan had forwarded the VAB passed by the KHADC to the MHA for further examination before giving his assent following growing demand from several quarters’ especially the traditional heads.

Stating that the suggestion was based on the past experiences, Sangma said, “Even if these queries are replied to we cannot presume or conclude whether the MHA would consider the VAB for its actual effective implementation or return it with observation.”

When asked, the chief minister said that the replies submitted by the KHADC will be forwarded to the MHA but the meeting had a taken a decision, which it feels may be the best approach in the interest of the people.

Speaking to reporters, the leaders of the SNSBH spearheading the demand for immediate approval of VAB, which seeks to empower the traditional headmen, said that they would discuss the issue in its upcoming general meeting.

“We will discuss the outcome of today’s meeting in the upcoming general meeting of the SNSBH since we are not the framers of the VAB,” SNSBH general secretary RL Blah said.

Blah said that the SNSBH will act only as a bridge between the state government and KHADC to ensure that the much awaited VAB is approved adding “The chief minister had also informed us that he had personally told the KHADC CEM to recall the Bill.”

On the other hand, SNSBH president W Kharshiing said what matters to the traditional chiefs is for the VAB to get approval at the earliest either from the KHADC or MHA.-By Our Reporter