JHADC flagged issue of revenue leakages, shares of royalty to Deputy CM Dhar

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 23, 2025

The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) formally submitted a detailed memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar in a pivotal meeting held in Shillong on May 23.

The memorandum highlighted critical issues impacting the council’s administration and the welfare of the Jaintia Hills region. The meeting was also attended by Cabinet Ministers Comingone Ymbon and Kyrmen Shylla, alongside other MLAs from the Jaintia Hills.

The meeting was a follow-up to the one held in Jowai on May 21, chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, which focused on long-term strategies to ensure financial stability across all three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in the state.

After the meeting, JHADC Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat expressed gratitude for the government’s responsiveness and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to resolving the crisis.

He said that MLAs and Ministers from Jaintia Hills would continue to push the matter under the leadership of Deputy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar and bring it up for deliberation at the cabinet level.

In its presentation, the JHADC highlighted several critical issues:

Transparency in Royalty Sharing: The Council raised serious concerns about the lack of access to mineral royalty challans since payment systems were centralised in Shillong. This shift, it said, has left the JHADC in the dark regarding actual mineral extraction figures and its rightful share of revenue.

Gross-Based Royalty Distribution: The JHADC urged the state to calculate its share of royalties from the gross amount collected, rather than post-deduction, to reflect a fairer revenue model.

Royalty on Incidental Challans: The Council also requested a share of royalties collected through incidental challans issued by the Mining and Geology Department, which it currently does not receive.

Outdated Royalty Rates: Noting that royalty rates on minerals have remained unchanged for years, the JHADC called for a long-overdue revision to enhance revenue collection.

Curbing Revenue Leakage: The Council flagged rampant illegal transportation of minerals to cement factories in East Jaintia Hills and proposed the installation of dedicated monitoring check gates at the entry points of each plant. These gates would monitor mineral flow, ensure environmental compliance, and enforce taxation and licensing norms.

Regular Fund Release: To address delays in salary payments, the Council requested the government to release Rs 10 crore monthly, to be adjusted against quarterly dues from royalties and motor vehicle taxes.

Inclusion in Finance Commission: The JHADC reiterated its demand for inclusion under the ambit of the Finance Commission of India. It said this would enable the Council to access direct devolution of funds and carry out meaningful development in the Sixth Schedule areas. The Council urged the state to take up the pending 125th Constitutional Amendment with the Centre.

Urban Planning & Revenue Generation: Citing jurisdictional limitations under the Meghalaya Building By-Laws, 2021, the JHADC asked the government to revise the boundary of the Jowai Master Plan and notify a Master Plan for Khliehriat to boost building-related revenue.

Revival of Grant-in-Aid: The Council appealed for the restoration of Grant-in-Aid under Grant No. 35, which earlier supported rural markets and enforcement departments but has been discontinued for years.

Support for Tourism Infrastructure: The JHADC owns multiple potential tourism sites but lacks funding for development. It requested special financial assistance from the government to harness this potential.

Cost Sharing for Council Elections: Lastly, the Council urged the state to approve its proposed amendment to Rule 124, allowing for equal sharing of election expenses between the Council and the state. The proposal, submitted in 2018, remains pending with the Law and Finance Departments.