The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has received Rs 12.37 crore from the State government as share of taxes on motor vehicles during 2022-2023.
This was informed by KHADC Chief Executive Member Pyniaid Sing Syiem while replying to a query raised by Mawkynrew MDC Martle N. Mukhim during the council’s budget session here today.
“The total amount of share was Rs 14 crore out of which Rs 12.37 crore was received and remaining balance of Rs 1.65 crore is yet to be released by the State government,” Syiem said.
Informing that Rs 2.04 crore was received during the financial year 2021-2022 and Rs 3.45 crore during 2020-2023, Syiem said that the KHADC is getting 60 per cent shares of taxes on motor vehicles collected by the State government.
“The new executive committee will follow up on other tax shares the council is supposed to get and to ensure that there is no delay in their release by the State government,” Syiem said.
He also informed that the calculation for the revenue collected from motor vehicles is all done by the State government and the KHADC accepts whatever is being sanctioned to the council.
Meanwhile, the Opposition in the KHADC has demanded a hike on royalty on major minerals from 25 per cent to 35 per cent.
HSPDP MDC, Martle N. Mukhim moved a motion on the second day of the session expressing concern on the lack of transparency on the part of the State government to provide the actual calculation of shares from royalty from the minerals, and motor vehicle taxes that are released to the council.
“In my 24 years as an MDC, all I kept hearing was the financial constraints and crisis faced by the council. But the fact remains that the council blindly accepted the shares from the State government without seeking clarification on the details of the shares,” Mukhim said.
He urged the new executive committee to write to the State government for proper maintenance of records and to be transparent and accountable about the shares.
Former Chief Executive Member Titos Chyne said that there were leakages of revenue from transportation including commercial vehicles that run without obtaining a trading license from the council.
Nongthymmai MDC Latiplang Kharkongor called for passing of a resolution to urge the State government to clarify on the matter of shares.
Admitting that the district council depends on the various shares and taxes to run its administration, Executive Member in-charge Mines and Minerals, Fantin Lakadong said that the newly formed executive committee would follow up the issue of tax share and write to the government to raise the royalty on coal from 25 per cent to 35 per cent.
