SHILLONG: Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Winston Tony Lyngdoh, has responded to the allegation made by the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President, Vincent H Pala, who claimed that after the Voice of the People Party (VPP) formed the Executive Committee (EC), “many ATMs” have appeared on the roads.
Lyngdoh stated that he holds the Trade department portfolio and welcomes the question, but he is unaware of such a development.
He asserted that under his watch, they have largely controlled the illegal proliferation of tax collection checkpoints. He pointed out that the number of checkpoints has been reduced significantly from 23 to only 11.
He suggested that Pala should seek clarification on the matter as he is not aware of how the checkpoints could have become “ATMs,” and he has nothing to say on that specific accusation.
The CEM further clarified that the new administration is not introducing new checkpoints but is reviewing the existing, long-standing ones. The purpose of the review is simply to determine if the checkpoints are legally justified and necessary for their locations.
”They are not new tax collection checkpoints; they are checkpoints that have been there for many, many years,” he stated.
“What we are doing is only to assess whether these checkpoints are legally entitled to be kept in that location. If we feel it is right, we keep it; if not, we remove it.”
He added that he had not yet fully read Pala’s statement and stressed that the public should seek clarification directly from the MPCC President on what basis he made the allegation.
”It is better to seek clarification from him on what basis he made that allegation, and let the public be clear, because we have not done that,” he emphasized.
He promised continuous transparency and stated that they will only keep essential checkpoints, unlike the former ECs, because, he claimed, the District Council’s revenue leakage was excessive.
