SHILLONG: The Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous Council (KHADC), Winston Tony Lyngdoh, has revealed that the District Council has not received even a single rupee from the lease of the Khasi Traditional Medicine Institute located at Lumsohpetbneng in Ri-Bhoi District.
The CEM shared this information while replying to a question raised by the Member of District Council (MDC) from Laban constituency, Ricky Shullai.
He further informed that the Khasi Traditional Medicine Institute at Lumsohpetbneng was leased out to the Centre for Learning of Knowledge and Services, owned by BG Byrsat, in the year 2024.
According to Winston, the KHADC had leased out the facility to BG Byrsat at a rate of ₹6 lakh per year for a duration of 20 years. However, from 2024 until the present moment, Byrsat has failed to pay even a single rupee to the KHADC.
He stated that the Khasi Traditional Medicine Institute at Lumsohpetbneng was constructed at a cost of not less than ₹9.5 crore. Despite this heavy investment, the institute remains completely deserted up to this day, without being put to any use by the person who leased it from the KHADC.
The CEM lamented that the institute continues to resemble an abandoned house and has failed to become functional as was originally intended.
Participating in the query session, MDC Ricky Shullai urged the Executive Committee (EC) to take stringent action against the lessee due to his total failure to operate the institute and his inability to pay the rent to the KHADC.
In response, the CEM stated that the EC will soon summon BG Byrsat to make him understand that he must immediately operationalize the Khasi Traditional Medicine Institute at Lumsohpetbneng and simultaneously clear the outstanding lease rental.
The CEM also stated that the KHADC will look into legal avenues to reclaim control of the Khasi Traditional Medicine Institute located at Lumsohpetbneng.
