The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) today tabled a deficit budget of Rs 95,130 for the year 2021-2022, which was presented on the first day of the budget session of the council.
Deputy Chief Executive Member (CEM) in charge of Finance, Gigur Myrthong, tabled the full budget with a projected expenditure of Rs 239,14,49,070 and projected revenue of Rs 239,13,53,940.
Informing that development activities were halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Myrthong said that he expected that the remaining projects will make certain progress even as he said that the Executive Committee (EC) aims to preserve and promote the culture and tradition of the Khasis and also turn their attention toward cultural tourism to generate revenue for the council and also to provide employment opportunities.
Informing that the central government has sanctioned Rs 40.95 crore from the 15th Finance Commission for the year 2020-2021 (tied and untied), out of which the state government released Rs 20,475 crore (untied) and expects the government to release the remaining amount and the grant for the year 2021-2022, he said that the EC from the grant received from Excluded Areas for the year 2019-2020, has decided to allocate funds for tourist spots in Mawlai Nongkwar Bishop Falls, market Complex at Riangdo, market in Byrnihat and Mawryngkneng, a tourist spot in Maraikaphon, Sohra (second phase), Khasi Traditional Medicine Institute (third phase) and others.
He also informed that the EC has decided to open courts and appoint Magistrates in Nongpoh, Nongstoiñ and Mawkyrwat.
As for the KHADC’s building bylaws, he said that the EC has decided that it will implement them in council-administered areas through the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Building and Structural Regulation Authority, though he pointed out that talks with the state government in this regard are still ongoing.
Myrthong further informed that the EC has appointed a Market Committee and a Special Committee on Elaka Affairs, which are entrusted to improve the Establishment, Management and Control of Market (Second Amendment) Regulation Bill 2021 and the Administration of Elaka (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 respectively, including the Nomination and Election of the Syiem, Deputy Syiem and Electors of Nongstoiñ Syiemship (Third Amendment) Bill 2021.
