TURA, March 15 - Garo Hills Progressive Alliance (GHPA)- led executive committee members of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) met Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma to seek an advance on the Council�s share of royalty from major minerals.
The GHPA delegation led by its Chief Executive Member (CEM), Denang T Sangma, Deputy CEM and GHPA Spokesperson, Augustine Marak, along with EC, Finance, Sengnal N Sangma met Dr Sangma to discuss the issue recently.
Interestingly, the entire amount of mineral royalty that was due to the GHPA-led alliance was withdrawn even before the formation of the new House by the previous EC led by Congress just prior to 2015 elections. The amount withdrawn in advance came to a whopping Rs 22 crore.
The delegation submitted a memorandum to the CM on the matter seeking a further advance against minerals of Rs 20 crore to meet the demand for salary of GHADC employees.
�The present EC is yet to receive a single rupee from major minerals share since its formation. The whole amount, supposed to be released in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 financial year, amounting to Rs 22 crore has been adjusted as advance drawn by Congress-led EC just before the 2015 GHADC election,� said Sengnal.
The delegation apprised the State Chief Minister seeking the release of Rs 20 crore in advance from major mineral royalty share to be used for staff salary pending for the past eight months.
