Shillong: The Meghalaya state government paid Rs 16 crore to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, but a massive debt remains. The Council is still owed Rs 70 crore in statutory dues. This outstanding balance consists of shares from major and minor mineral royalties and motor vehicle taxes. These funds cover both the current fiscal year and the previous one. CEM Winston Tony Lyngdoh stated the partial payment helps, but cash flow issues persist. "We received around Rs 16 crore out of the amount that was promised to us," Lyngdoh told reporters.
Lyngdoh rejected a state proposal to fund employee salaries. The government attached strings to this offer. They demanded a salary cap and strict financial reforms. The plan required appointing a principal secretary-level IAS officer or a senior Meghalaya Civil Service officer to oversee council finances. The Council rejected this intervention during talks with former East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner R.M. Kurbah. Officials held two of three planned meetings before shelving the proposal.
The Council wants its owed money instead of conditional help. Regular payments would stabilize operations, Lyngdoh argued. Meanwhile, the Executive Committee is slashing costs to survive. The body currently holds seven members with empty chairman and vice-chairman seats. Members receive no honorarium for their committee work. Staff have started printing trading certificates and tightened collections in the Forest and Professional Tax departments to stop revenue leaks.
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