SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Tuesday( June 09) accused the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government of withholding more than ₹41.5 crore due to the council, raising questions over whether the delay is linked to political considerations.
KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Tony Winston Lyngdoh said the council is yet to receive ₹29 crore from transport and minor mineral revenues, besides ₹12.5 crore under the second installment of the 15th Finance Commission grant.
Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh claimed the continued delay has weakened the council’s financial position and affected its ability to carry out development activities and administrative responsibilities.
KHADC has sent at least four reminders to the District Council Affairs (DCA) Department seeking release of the pending funds, with the latest communication sent on June 5,he told reporters. He said the council has yet to receive a response.
“The State government has released the funds to the JHADC and the GHADC, but KHADC is still waiting for its dues. This raises serious questions,” Lyngdoh said. The CEM pointed out that the executive committees in both the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) are led by the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), while KHADC is currently headed by the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP).
According to Lyngdoh, the DCA Department had earlier indicated that ₹20 crore would be released as the council’s share, followed by another communication relating to an additional ₹9 crore. However, the amount has not been transferred to the council. He also expressed concern over the delay in releasing the second installment of the 15th Finance Commission grant, stating that the funds had reportedly reached the State government months ago but have yet to be released to KHADC.
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Lyngdoh said the Executive Committee had discussed the matter and was concerned over what it viewed as a lack of urgency in releasing both the council’s revenue share and the pending Finance Commission grant. He further alleged that repeated assurances without any actual release of funds had created expectations within the council without producing any concrete outcome.
“The non-release of these funds has affected the functioning of the council. Had the amount been released earlier, it would have helped the Executive Committee manage its responsibilities more effectively,” he said.
For the council, the issue goes beyond accounting figures. Revenue shares and Finance Commission grants form an important part of KHADC’s finances, helping support administration, development works and other council responsibilities. Delays in receiving those funds can affect planning and slow the implementation of projects and programmes.
The CEM also claimed that Finance Commission guidelines require the State government to transfer funds to the autonomous district councils within a stipulated period after receiving them from the Centre. He alleged that delays in releasing the grant have already resulted in interest liabilities.
KHADC has calculated that the interest on the delayed ₹12.5 crore installment has reached approximately ₹35 lakh he stated. He further accused that while the second installment had already been released to JHADC and GHADC, KHADC’s share remains pending.
The council has demanded the immediate release of the pending funds along with payment of the interest that has accumulated due to the delay. Lyngdoh said KHADC had also raised the issue in its June 5 reminder, warning that the interest liability would continue to increase if the matter remains unresolved.
According to the CEM, the DCA Department has informed the council that the proposal is currently pending with the Finance Department.