Shillong, Jan 08: The cabinet on Wednesday has extended the term of the Distrct council Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) by another fifteen days.
The cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday has also decided to extend extended the term of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by six months.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday by extending the term of the GHADC it will allow the ANVC to participate in the democratic process during the elections to the GHADC.
The decision to extend the term of GHADC to six month was taken considering the fact that the settlement agreement signed by the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC)with the state and central govermment early last year envisage extending the power of the GHADC and increase in the number of Member of District Council (MDC)seats from the current 29 to 40 seats.
Stating that the text settlement agreement has been taken up with centre, Sangma said, “The union government has informed us that the settlement is in the final stage and that it is pending approval of the union cabinet because the union government has asked some views the state government which has to be send back to the union government. He said, “Therefore it can be considered now that the ultimate accord which would be sign based on this text settlement agreement for permanent political settlement with ANVC is in the final stage.”
The ANVC and other groups reportedly met chief minister Mukul Sangma requesting for the fulfillment of all the agreement signed during the tripartite settlement agreement between the state, central governments and the ANVC.
Interestingly, the terms of all the three district councils of the state is slated to expire on February 17.
Earlier, Meghalaya Cabinet approved the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) Delimitation Bill. Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma said that the JHADC Delimitation Bill would be forwarded to the Governor for his consideration. The JHADC had approved the Delimitation Bill during its winter session on November 15 last year amidst protests from opposition members.
With regard to the approval of the JHADC delimitation bill, Sangma said the government has gone through the whole proposal which also is related to various queries sent to the JHADC in respect of the propose delimitation and accordingly given the approval to the bill.(SP News)
