Shillong, Sept 6: The three autonomous district councils (ADCs) on Thursday urged the Meghalaya government to implement a ruling of the High Court related to royalty shares on major minerals between the Councils and the state government.

This plea was made by the three Chief Executive Members (CEMs) of the three Councils when they met Chief Minister Conrad Kongkal Sangma here.

A joint delegation of the three CEMs of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council met the Chief Minister and submitted before him the High Court ruling in 1993 where it has ordered that the royalty shares should be 60 per cent for the Councils and 40 per cent for the state government.

The National People’s Party (NPP) which is leading the coalition Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government in the state, is also ruling all the three Councils.

KHADC CEM, H.S. Shylla said that as of now, the royalty share released by the state government was only 25 per cent for the district councils, and the state government keeps 75 per cent.

Shylla said that though the Chief Minister has not given any assurance, but he has assured the joint delegation that he would go through the ruling of the High Court.

The joint delegation also requested the state government to have a thorough review on the functioning of the three district councils and their relationship with the state government, to which, the Chief Minister agreed to have a review meeting after the Assembly session.

Shylla also said that issues related to Bills passed by the three district councils and yet to get the assent of the Governor would be discussed in the upcoming review meeting.