SHILLONG, Oct 30: Chief of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), Thombor Shiwat, on Thursday said that the Council is willing to accept the state government’s proposal to pay salaries to its employees — but only under certain conditions.

“We will accept it (the government’s proposal) but with conditions,” Shiwat told reporters after a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of District Council Affairs (DCA) Prestone Tynsong, who had sought clarification on the Council’s position regarding the proposal.

Shiwat informed that while the JHADC has not yet formally submitted its response to the state government, the Council’s conditions pertain mainly to greater control over its own resources, particularly in sectors such as mines, minor minerals, and transport, which are currently administered by the state government.

He emphasized that the JHADC’s objective is to reduce its financial dependence on the state government by enhancing its capacity to generate and manage revenue independently.

Addressing questions on the Council’s financial situation, Shiwat said the JHADC is awaiting the state government’s calculation of revenue shares due to the Council for the past five to six months. Once those figures are finalized, the Council will determine its next course of action.