Shillong, Feb 4: The UDA-led executive committee of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has approved the draft KHAD (Establishment, Management & Control of Markets) (2nd Amendment) Regulation Bill.
After chairing the EC meeting on Wednesday, KHADC chief executive member, Titosstarwell Chyne told reporters that the Bill will also be placed before the House for its consideration during the upcoming budget session, which will commence from February 26.
“The amendment bill seeks to make it mandatory for all markets across the region to get recognition of the Council which in turn will be of great benefit to the farmers,” he said.
Stating that measures would also be taken to check and prevent illegal activities inside the markets, Chyne said, “This is because we have seen in the case of Iewduh, there has been lots of gambling taking place besides illegal wine stores in the market.”
He added, “Therefore, all such illegal wine shops will be closed down in such market places. In as far as wine stores are concerned; they will require taking license from the district council.”
The EC has also approved the KHAD (Solid Waste Management) Bill, which was passed last year but returned by the DCA department for further fine-tuning and few modifications. Chyne said that the Bill will soon be submitted to the DCA for necessary action.
The KHADC chief also informed that the KHAD (Administration of Elaka) (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2021 was also approved with the aim to further strengthen the administration in the Himas and villages.
“We have decided that the appellate authority will now be the Judge of the District Council Court and not the EM in-charge Elaka. We will also appoint a first-class magistrate to head the tribunal instead of the deputy secretary. This will go a long way in helping to resolve the boundary disputes among the himas and shnongs,” he said.
Meanwhile, the EC has also decided to further strengthen the judiciary by sanctioning one post of an additional judge and two first-class magistrates. It also decided to ensure the functioning of the district council courts at Nongstoin, Nongpoh and Mawkyrwat.
