SHILLONG, Nov 4: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Thursday witnessed heated debate over the issue of trading license.

Replying to a motion moved by Congress MDC from Mylliem Ronnie V Lyngdoh during the council’s winter session, Executive Member in-charge Trade Rangkynsai Kharbuki demanded the mover to withdraw his allegation that the department had demanded Rs 1 crore for issuing trading license to a contractor implementing the four-lane project from Umshyrpi to Baniun.

Kharbuki said that the allegation will tarnish his image of being an MDC from Umroi constituency.

Lyngdoh however said he is not making any allegation but is only referring to rumours that Rs 1 crore was asked for issuing trading license to the said contractor.

The Congress MDC further asked the EM not to bang his table and not to take the issue personal. “We also know how to bang tables, not only you. But the fact of the matter is only the chairman can expunge any words so why are you asking me to withdraw my statement,” he said.

In his supplementary reply, CEM Titosstarwell Chyne said that it was totally wrong to say that the trade department has demanded Rs 1 crore because there has been no delay in issuing of trading license to the contractor of the four-lane project.

Earlier, the Congress MDC also referred to the allegation that the KHADC officials are making extortionist demands in connection with the Umroi airport. The matter was brought to the notice of the high court. “We cannot allow law to be an avenue of corruption,” he said.

On this, Chyne informed that the council had immediately instituted a judicial inquiry on the matter. In his reply earlier, the EM informed that the company making the allegation did not appear before the judicial inquiry and the matter was accordingly disposed of.