Shillong, Aug 19: Opposition members of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) are apprehensive that MDCs will stand to lose schemes if the 16th Finance Commission is implemented.
Led by Opposition Leader Titosstar Well Chyne, the MDCs met with Chief Executive Member Shemborlang Rynjah to seek clarification on the delay in the release of schemes to the members.
Stating that the delay has affected constituencies the opposition members pointed out that in the previous term, the Executive Committee received the first instalment of the scheme from the 15th Finance Commission, ranging from 30-40 to 50 lakh.
According to the members, with the 16th Finance Commission set to be implemented, schemes from 2021-22 to 2025 may lapse. “In my understanding, once the 16th Finance Commission is implemented, these pending schemes will be lost, and it will be a great loss to the public,” Chyne stated.
The opposition leader claimed that the former EC cannot be blamed for the delay as schemes until December 2024 were disbursed. He questioned the current EC’s silence on the matter even after the budget was passed six months ago.
The CEM attributed the delay to technical issues in processing bills, some of which have been pending for six to seven months.
Additionally, the opposition MDCs also raised the issue of illegal immigration into the state.
Chyne urged the CEM to convene a meeting with all traditional heads to collectively discuss and adopt stringent measures to curb the influx of outsiders.
