Shillong, June 24: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Tuesday tabled a Rs 5,24,640 surplus budget for the financial year 2025-2026 amid protest by opposition.
“The proposed expenditure is estimated at Rs 227,48,35,620 is lesser than the council’s revenue receipts which is at Rs 227,53,60,260,” Executive Member in-charge Finance Seiborlang Warbah said while presenting the budget during the summer session which commenced here on Tuesday.
The budget was presented after the chairman of the council decided to put the matter to vote following objections from the opposition against the EC’s decision to include supplementary demand in the main budget, which they claimed to be unconstitutional and illegal.
In his budget speech, Warbah assured the House that the executive committee (EC) will try its best to find out ways and means to improve the revenue collection of the Council and to keep a check on unnecessary expenditures.
Quoting Benjamin Franklin that “beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship”, the EM said the present EC wanted to ensure clean and good governance and to strengthen the financial position of the council.
Warbah also announced the EC’s decision to do away with leasing the forest gates.
“We have decided to collect revenue from forest gates on our own,”
To further cut down on expenditure, he said the EC has decided that printing of the trading licenses will be done by the department and this will ensure revenue of Rs 60 lakh approximately to the council.
According to him, the council will also introduce online payment of professional tax at the different branch offices.
Warbah further informed that the EC has decided to revisit the buidling bye laws in the interest of the people.
“We have also constituted a recruitment committee to streamline the job recruitment process in the council,” he added.
Further, Warbah informed that the state government through the 15th Finance Commission has released funds for the year 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 Tied 1st installment.
As per the guidelines for implementation of the schemes sanctioned under the 15th Finance Commission, all proposals have to be uploaded in E-gram Swaraj portal before releasing of the funds to all the ADCs. However, due to technical issues, there has been delay to comply with the said guidelines.
Warbah also informed that in December 2024, the council has received Rs 12.15 crore as first instalment under the Untied Grant for 2021-22, after uploading the schemes in the portal.
“The second instalment for 2021-22 (for both Tied and Untied) have been uploaded,” he said while adding “The process of uploading the schemes and proposals for 2022-23 have started. We are in the process of submitting the utilization certificates of the grants already implemented and we expect that the Centre will release the necessary funds at the earliest.”
 on Tuesday tabled a Rs 5,24,640 surplus budget for the financial year 2025-2026 amid protest by opposition.){kind=link}