KHADC session begins

KHADC CEM, PN Syiem presented the budget allocation before the house at the first day of the session on Monday (TM)

SHILLONG, MARCH 4: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chief executive member (CEM) Pynshngainlang N Syiem presented the vote on account of Rs 15.96 crore on the first day of the budget session of the council on Monday.

The vote on account will take care of the finances of the councils various departments and salaries of the staff, including members of the executive committee and chairman, besides other miscellaneous expenses for the next three months. “The full budget will be tabled in June,” said Syiem.

Minerals’ royalty: KHADC member in-charge of finance, Antonio N War, told the House that the state government has given the council a total of Rs 6.11 crore as royalty for minerals. “Rs 6, 11, 70, 000 was released by the state government as shares from royalty on major minerals during the year 2012 – 2013,” he said in reply to a query raised by MDC R Rani.

War said the royalty money was a lumsum amount for all minerals mined in the council area during the current fiscal and the state government had not provided the detailed breakup, including the percentage at which the royalty was calculated.

MDC CS Sohtun, however, expressed concern at the failure of the government to indicate the percentage and feared that this could result in loss of revenue to the council. “We should demand the state government to issue separate challans on minerals,” he said, while urging War to take up the matter with the state government.

Earlier, executive member in-charge of Elaka L Blah sought extended time for the Select Committee to submit its report pertaining to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Appointment and Succession of Syiem, Deputy Syiem, Electors and Rangbah Shnong of Mylliem Syiemship) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012.

The committee, which was constituted by the House in the last budget session, he said, had met several times to examine and consider the draft amendment Bill. “However, as the Bill requires thorough and in-depth study, it has not been able to finalize and submit its report,” he said, while assuring the House that the report would be completed in the next session.

The House was later adjourned and it will meet again on March 6 and 7. (By Our Reporter)