Registration of vehicles by Jaintia Hills region people in Shillong adversely affected JHADC: Shiwat

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 8, 2024

The registration of new vehicles in Shillong by the people of Jaintia Hills region rather than in their respective district headquarters led to a drastic drop in shares of revenue from motor vehicles taxes informed Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat.

The statement was made by Shiwat during the General Discussion of the Budget on Friday.

The Chief Executive Member said the Council simply received their shares of revenue on major minerals, motor vehicles taxes and minor minerals from the State Government. He also asserted Council are never informed by the Government on the actual collections of revenues on major minerals, minor minerals and motor vehicles taxes.

Shiwat said that the Government held a meeting with the three Autonomous District Councils (ADC) of the State in Shillong for discussion on the building bye law. He also said that the Government agreed to issue a notification empowering the ADC to enforce the building bye law in areas outside the jurisdiction of Municipal Board.

The Chief Executive Member said that one of the decisions taken by the Executive Committee to generate revenue is the necessity for seeking no objection certificate from the Council for setting up tourist spots, hotels, inn, home stays and others.

He also said that the Council will increase the rate of leasing lands and it requires to be update for it was fixed three or four decades back.

Regarding the leakage of revenue from the illegal of coals transportation as pointed out by Jowai Central MDC A Andrew Shullai, the Chief Executive Member said that they will try to find out ways and means to keep a tab on the leakage so that it will benefit the Council.

Shiwat said, “A special committee was formed by the Executive Committee to dwell on avenues of generating revenue as to enable the Council stop relying on shares of revenues.”

In his closing remarks, Shiwat said that “there is no point of mere holding some portfolios when you lack the sense of responsibility and dedication towards your duties. I appealed to the officers especially of the Forest department, Taxation department, Revenue Department to render their services with full sense of dedication and cooperation for generation of revenue.”

The MDCs who took part in the general discussion of the budget are Shullai, War Central MDC Hollando Lamin and Sutnga Nongkhlieh MDC Richard Lyngdoh.