First executive committee meeting of the United Democratic Alliance, held

Shillong, Mar 15: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has decided to table a full budget for the financial year 2019-2020 in the upcoming budget session, which will commence from March 25.

The decision was taken at the first executive committee meeting of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) held here on Friday.

“We have decided to place the full budget during the upcoming budget session of the Council,” KHADC chief Teinwell Dkhar told reporters after the meeting.

According to him, the budget session will have three working days.

Asked, deputy chief executive member Pyniaid Sing Syiem said the proposed implementation of the Rs 52 crore special assistance grant sanctioned by the Centre recently will also be reflected in the budget speech.

On the recent appointment of an MCS officer as secretary of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), the KHADC chief said that the matter will be discussed by the Council on whether to submit similar proposal to the state government.

He also admitted that the need to streamlining the functioning of the KHADC, “We really need to strengthen the Council from within to ensure that we overcome many challenges.”

Asked, Dkhar said many issues which are important will be discussed in the next meeting of the executive committee as today’s was mainly focused on the budget session.

With regards to the implementation of the building byelaws in the Schedule areas, the deputy CEM said the Council will also discuss the recent decision of the state government to handover power to issue building permission to the district councils.

Admitting the need to strengthen the engineering wing of the Council, Syiem however said if required, the KHADC will request the government to provide technical staff for the implementation of the building byelaws under its jurisdiction.