The state government is in the process of holding a series of meetings with representatives of the autonomous district councils of Meghalaya in order to help them secure their financial footing.
Speaking to reporters while on a trip to Jowai, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, when asked about the local Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, said that the JHADC’s issues revolve around pending salaries and overall financial stability.
The ban on rat-hole coal mining a decade ago took its toll on revenues for the council, Sangma said, while adding that the state government has sanctioned Rs 20 crore out of the dues the JHADC is owed by the state and in two or three weeks another Rs 19 crore in pending dues will be released.
“That should give some stability and release the pressure on the JHADC,” the CM said while flanked by Deputy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar and Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla. “In the meantime we are also discussing with them regarding future ways and means to work together, support the JHADC and other district councils and reform the councils, whether administratively, financially or in their overall working.”
A follow-up meeting will be held in the coming days, led by the Deputy CM, with more meetings after that.
“We are working on a long-term solution to this problem (of finances) so that once and for all we will see some financial stability but this is still at the planning stages… We have to look at how to create stability through finance and we are exploring all the options,” Sangma added.
