Govt will review relationship between state & councils: CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma Thursday assured chief executive members of three tribal autonomous councils that the government will review the relationship between the state and the councils.

The assurance was made to a delegation of the chief executive members (CEM) H S Shylla of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, M B Rymbai of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and D R Marak of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council who called on the chief minister at his office here.

"The chief minister has assured of a thorough review of the relationship between the state and the councils after the assembly session," Shylla told mediapersons.

He said the three council chiefs had called on the chief minister seeking release of pending shares the councils are yet to get from the taxes on minerals and forest produces.

"We also apprised the chief minister of the 1993 High Court ruling in which the state has to follow a 60:40 sharing of the taxes collected on major minerals in the state in which 60 per cent has to be given as shares to the Councils," the KHADC CEM said.

As of now, the state pays a 25 per cent share on taxes it collects on minerals and forest produces.

The GHADC CEM informed that he had taken up the matter of pending 17 months salary of the 2000 staffs at the council which is over Rs 80 crore.

Upon being apprised, the chief minister has assured to look into the matter, Marak said.