SHILLONG:
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) tabled a Rs 55,080 deficit budget for the financial year 2023-24 during the ongoing Summer session of the Council on June 24.
Delivering his budget speech, the Council’s Chief Executive Member in charge of Finance Pyniaid Sing Syiem informed that the proposed expenditure is Rs 253,12,59,690 and the Council’s revenue receipts are Rs 253,12,04,610.
In his speech, the CEM said that the tourist spot in Maraikaphon, Sohra was completed and then inaugurated in the month of November 2022, the Mawryngkneng market and the new Hat (traditional market) at Nongshken will also be opened soon.
He said that the ongoing works are the market in Mawsynram, market complex at Riangdo, the tourist spot at Bishop’s Fall, Mawlai.
Building permission
Syiem informed that the building permission has been issued since the month of January 2023 and till date 83 building permissions have been issued.
The Urban Affairs department of the state government has announced that Autonomous District Councils have been authorised to implement the Meghalaya Building bye-laws 2021 within the jurisdiction of the District Council.
The KHADC through the Khasi Hills Building and Structure Regulatory Authority (KHBSRA) implemented the Building Bye-laws 2021.
The CEM said that the Executive Committee will strengthen the KHBSRA so that the collection from the building permission will enhance the revenue receipts of the Council.
Surnames
The CEM also informed that the Council has issued a notification on June 1, 2023 to persons from changing their surname without the written consent of the Registration Authority and the Executive Committee (EC).
Syiem said that this was necessitated after it was seen that non-Khasis assume a Khasi surname only through an affidavit.
Border talks
The CEM said that the KHADC is an important stakeholder in the second phase of the border talks and has included the KHADC in the regional committees of the West Khasi hills and Ri Bhoi.
New Shillong
In his budget speech, the CEM also said that the Executive Committee has the intention to shift the office of the KHADC to New Shillong and the EC will take up the matter with the state government.