Shillong, Mar 20: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has constituted a committee to examine the proposal for hiking the trading license fee to protect the livelihood activities of the indigenous people.

It has also decided to strictly implement the provisions of the KHAD (Trading by Non-Tribals) Regulation Act, 1954 which include restrictions to issue trading license to non-tribal traders on trades which are being carried out by the tribal traders.

The decision was taken at the first review meeting convened by Executive Member in-charge trade department, Paul Lyngdoh with the officials of the department here on Wednesday.

“We have constituted a committee to examine the proposal for hiking the trading license fee which include fresh and renewal. The committee will be headed by deputy secretary of the Council and licensing officers as its members,” Lyngdoh told reporters after the meeting.

He said the committee is directed to submit a report within one month and the same will be placed before the executive committee for its consideration.

Lyngdoh further announced that the Council will not entertain any fresh or renewal of licenses till the exercise is completed.

Asked, the EM said that on studying, it was found out that the Act still needs to be further strengthened in order to achieve its objective.

“The fees fixed are too less and this has encourage people from outside to come and do businesses in the region. The fee fixed for a first class contractor is only Rs 5,000 while for a giant company like Lafarge it is only Rs 15,000,” he said.

Admitting that the problem of benami is a concern, Lyngdoh however said that there are ways and means to address this issue.

“I don’t want to explain how, but you can leave that to us, and we will take action at the right time,” he said while informing that checking on illegal trade will continue but the strategy will be different this time.