Leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne on Friday raised sharp objections during the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council budget discussion, questioning the shift from surplus to deficit and opposing proposed amendments to the KHAD Regulation and Administration of Land Act.
Chyne flagged the financial turnaround in just one year.
“I express my concern because barely a year ago you presented a surplus budget, but this year it is a deficit budget. I don’t know the reason why, just one year after you presented a surplus budget, you now talk loudly about wasteful expenditure. That means there was wasteful expenditure which has turned the budget into a deficit,” he said.
The opposition leader also targeted the Executive Committee’s proposed changes to the Land Act. He noted that Section 16 of the Act mandates “prior consultation with the respective Dorbar” before any notification is issued.
“What surprises me is that in the amendment you have now brought, you have deleted from Section 16 the words ‘after prior consultation with the respective Dorbar’. Why delete the powers of the Dorbar Shnong, the Raids, the Hima, when you want to issue a Notification with them?” Chyne asked.