 in-charge Taxation Fantin J Lakadong also assured that the EC under the leadership of the CEM will improve the revenue collection of the council.){kind=link}
SHILLONG:
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) wants to increase the royalty share on coal and has decided to write to the state government with regard to it.
“The executive committee will take up the matter and will soon write to the state government on the need to increase the royalty share on coal,” Executive Member (EM) in-charge Taxation Fantin J Lakadong said while replying to a motion moved by opposition HSPDP MDC from Mawkynrew Martle N Mukhim during the council’s summer session held on Monday.
Lakadong also assured that the EC under the leadership of the CEM will improve the revenue collection of the council.
According to him, the EC will also work hard to reduce the revenue leakages keeping in mind the financial crisis faced by the council.
Earlier when Lakadong refused to give any assurance on the demand, Mukhim said that the EC should make its stand clear on whether it accepts or not the suggestion put forth by him to demand increasing the royalty share on coal.
“The present arrangement to give only 25% royalty share to the KHADC is too less. Therefore, the government should increase the royalty share to 35% in order to boost the council’s coffer,” he asserted.
Mukhim further asserted the need to know the actual revenue collection by the state government from both minor and major minerals.
The EM had also urged Mukhim to refrain from using the word “illiterate” against officials, when the latter was referring to them for not being able to calculate and provide a proper report on the revenue collection from such minerals. Mukhim clarified that he did not mean to demean the officials of both government and the council.
While supporting the motion, Leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne said the council has every right to know how much the state government is collecting revenue from mineral resources.
“Sometimes, I feel we are like beggars who have to be satisfied with whatever is being given to us since we don’t know how much we are getting because the government is releasing the royalty shares on a lump sum basis,” he said.
He also spoke on the need to plug the revenue leakages and said, “We have seen this is happening due to the illegal transportation of coal and limestone without any challan. This has led to huge revenue losses. We have to remind ourselves that the council is surviving from the royalty shares on minor and major minerals.”
He also informed the House that there are unscrupulous taxi owners, who are using the number plates of scooties and condemned vehicles just to avoid paying taxes and are also available the taxi stickers through illegal means. All these are affecting the council’s revenue generation, he added.
Independent MDC from Nongthymmai Latiplang Kharkongor said that it is high time that the House passes an official resolution on the issue of royalty shares.