Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief, Titosstarwell Chyne will meet Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on the government’s recommendation to implement the tied grants of Rs 91 crore sanctioned under the 15th Finance Commission.
“We will be meeting the Chief Minister on Wednesday since he has to take the final decision on the matter,” Chyne said.
The recommendation has not gone down well with the UDA-led executive committee in KHADC who has decided to oppose the decision.
“The executive committee has not sat idle on the issue as we had already taken up the matter in December. But unfortunately our appointment with the CM stands cancelled after he was tested positive for Covid-19,” he said.
Chyne said that the matter was taken up with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and District Council Affairs minister Lahkmen Rymbui.
The centre had released the Rs 91 crore to the three ADCs in Khasi, Jaiñtia and Garo Hills out of the Rs 182 crore earmarked for the current financial year. Of the Rs 91 crore, Rs 45.50 crore is the basic grant (Untied) and 45.50 crore is the tied grant.
Meanwhile, the opposition United Democratic Forum (UDF) has demanded the state government to immediately release the central funds to the ADCs along with interest.
UDF secretary, Charles Marngar said in the history of the Autonomous District Council, it has never happened that funds released by Central government had been diverted without the consent of the district council.
Marngar said that this would affect plans of MDCs in implementing schemes under sanitation and drinking water.
