“Cut our coat according to Our Cloth,” Shiwat said while placing deficit budget of over 19 crores

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 27, 2019

JOWAI: Placing a deficit budget of Rs. 19.99 crore for the financial year 2019-20, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat today assured to adopt the principle to cut our Coat according to our Cloth as to steer over the current financial crisis in the Council.                            .

Shiwat placed the district council budget for the financial year 2018-19 in the first day of the Budget Session of the newly constituted House of Members of the tenure 2019-2024 in the floor of the house this morning.

The three times MDC from Nartiang Umladang said that the proposed Budget Estimates for the ensuing Financial Year bear an estimated receipts of Rs 148, 67, 41, 200.00. (Rupees One hundred Forty Eight Crore Sixty Seven Lakh Forty One Thousand Two Hundred) only against the estimated expenditure of Rs 168, 67, 37, 500. 00 (Rupees One Hundred Sixty Eight Crore Sixty Seven Lakh Thirty Seven Thousand Five Hundred) only,

He also said that the Current Financial year budget bear a deficit of Rs. 21.68 Crore due to provision for clearing of arrear pay of employees and other administrative liabilities.

Shiwat lamented due to ban on mining of coal the receipt in the current financial year 2018-19 comes down to Rs. 42.89 crore compared to the receipt of Rs 48.12 crore in 2017-18. He also said that the receipt on the share of royalty on minor mineral has comes down to Rs. 11.85 Crore as compared to Rs.29.48 crore in 2017-18.

The Chief Executive Member said that they will move with the State Government for enhancement of the ratio of apportionment of the share of royalty on major minerals from the existing ratio of 25 % for District Council to 75 % for the Government to the ratio of 50:50 shares and similarly on share of royalty on minor mineral for the existing 40:60 to 50:50 shares.

He also said that they will pursue the amendment of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Village and Town Administration Act, 1974 pertaining to Building permission in area outside the Jurisdiction of Municipality and also for the prior approval of the Governor to the revision of Jaintia Hills Autonomous District (Court Fee) (First Amendment) Rules, 2018 which have not been revised since 1984.

Shiwat said that they received financial assistance from the Government it may be mentioned that during the current financial year Rs. 8.00 Lakh for Land Reform Scheme, Rs. 15.98 Lakh for Forest Development Scheme, but no financial assistance is received for enforcement machinery (TNT), Education, Arts & Culture, Market and Judicial.

He further said that during the year 2017-18 they received an amount of Rs.10.74 crore from the Central Government as Central Assistance Grant for areas not included in Part IX & IX A to the Constitution where most of the development works are under progress.  He also said similar grant was released by the Central Government to this District Council during this current Financial Year with an amount of Rs. 11.62 crore and the balance of Rs 5 Crore will be released shortly.

The Chief Executive Member apprised that during the year 2018-2019, they have been able to submit 3 years Annual Accounts of the Council from 2011-2012 to 2012-2013 to 2013-2014 to the Accountant General (Audit), Meghalaya, Shillong.

During the year 2019-2020, he said that the Finance Department to prepare and submit 4 years Annual Accounts of the Council for the years 2014-15 to 2017-2018 to the Accountant General (Audit).