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Meghalaya BJP Vice President and Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak has expressed strong apprehension over the state government’s alleged intent to take over three key revenue-generating departments—major minerals, minor minerals, and motor vehicles—warning that such a move would severely dilute the autonomous powers of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
“Actually right from the day it was declared (about the financial reform), we are very apprehensive. In a statement by Tourism Minister and Government Spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh, he said it it’s not going to be the blank cheque, so that’s way we are more or confirm that something is happen. Something is happening and we very curious to know what that’s something is because we represent the autonomous District Council and we should not have anything to do with the state Government. Because otherwise our autonomous Power will be the diluted,” Marak told Meghalaya News 24.
He questioned the sincerity of the state in honouring the 2014 agreement signed by the ANVC and ANVC Breakaway, which, under paragraph 3.1, makes it mandatory for the government to pay GHADC salaries until it becomes self-sufficient. “So now the question comes Since the agreement was signed in 2014, That means the state should have taken it up from 2015-16 itself. And if it was taken up and the salaries of the employees were cleared by the state, which they intend to do now, I think there would not have been any backlog, any pending salary for the employees. So Actual problems started because the salaries of the employee was not cleared. The ongoing agitational is because of that. Now that Chief Minister has assured that he will be taking the responsibility to clear the salaries grom November. Okay, we don’t deny it. But what about the backlog? What about the pending salaries? Because by November, it will be 45 months that will amount to Rs 275 crores. So Why this backlog or why this pending salary issue has come up?” he said.
Marak strongly objected to the idea of a principal secretary being appointed to oversee GHADC’s finances. “My objection will be on that because who will be the principle secretary because if it is a beaureacrat this should not happen because it will dilute the autonomous power of the District Council and it will proof that our executive committee has failed and they have actually surrendered to the state if principal secretary is looking after the financial matters of the District Council.”
On the three revenue-heavy sectors, Marak alleged large-scale discrepancies. “If these three departments are actually at the discretion of the state, so there will be no accountability as far as how much tones of Minerals are being transported from Garo Hills because now also it does not tally with the recorded we have. Because what is happening in Garo Hills is let may be very honest, If 100 trucks are plying from Garo Hills, So there will be chalan for only 10 trucks. So we get the record of only 10 trucks, So 90 trucks are plying without challan, do it doesn’t tally with the records, and we are getting less revenue because there is no way that district council can actually claim that this many trunks have actually transported the minerals from Garo Hills.”
He added that the same lack of clarity exists in the motor vehicles sector. “The number of vehicles that are registered in Garo Hills, we do not have the exact figure, So there is no way that we can check or Telly That the amount that is being given to us is exactly the amount which is actually the amount collected through the registration of the vehicles. So these are the two areas where there are loose ends.”
Accusing the government of betraying the people of Garo Hills, Marak said, “Why the state government wants to take away these departments. If they are planning to do it or if our executive members they do it discreetly it will be a betrayal to the people of Garo Hills because the people doesn’t want it to be handed over to the state.”
He pointed to a court order entitling GHADC to 60 percent of royalty from major minerals, but alleged the state is paying only 25 percent. “So how will we sustain the district councils, so that is the main question. What the CM is saying may be because they are more focused to take our over departments, then give us liberty to take care of our institutions, our council T our own capacity at our own calibre at our own leadership.”
Marak insisted that the manner in which the reforms are being approached proves the fears of the council. “It is what is portraying the way they are moving, the way the government is approaching towards this reform, this is exactly what we have been apprehensive of. If this becomes a reality then it will be a setback for the people of Garo Hills, for the people who signed the agreement because instead of strengthening the district councils we are at the discretion of the state, so this is not something that we will agree to.”
Doubting the government’s assurances, he further said, “Till now they have stated, there is no mou, There is no agreement, But we are very apprehensive because the minutes which has been signed by all the Chief executive member and deputy Chief Executive member What is written in this minutes is very important. We feel and we fear that Something has been signed, Something has been agreed, like the given and take Policy has taken place. So we are very apprehensive. So, We would try to get the information, And If you get it in black and white, Whatever measure we have to do, No matter how much we have to fight on this, We will have to fight.”
On the employees’ agitation, Marak said, “As per as the employees are concerned the agitation started because of the pending salaries, Even though the CM has assured to pay from November Even though, I think until then, unless the pending salaries are clearer, I think the agitation will not be called off. It is a general opinion that Pending salaries should be clear.”
