SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today announced a major financial intervention for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), confirming the release of ₹79.5 crores to immediately clear the pending salaries of its employees.
The CM expressed hope that this substantial release will enable the GHADC to disburse up to 12 months’ worth of salary backlog owed to its staff.
Breakdown and Condition of Funds
The total amount released is a combination of two components:
- ₹11 crores: The GHADC’s existing dues already held by the state government.
- ₹68.5 crores: An advance payment against the Council’s future share of royalty revenue.
Chief Minister Sangma clarified that this is not an additional grant, but rather funds drawn from the GHADC’s own share, which will be adjusted in the future.
The entire amount of ₹79.5 crores has been deposited into a specialized escrow account. The release is strictly conditional on the following:
- Dedicated Use: The funds are to be used only for salary disbursement and cannot be diverted or misused for any other purpose.
- Monitoring: The state government’s Principal Secretary will be assigned to oversee the finance and monitor the escrow account to ensure compliance.
Call for Long-Term Financial Stability
While providing the financial lifeline, the state government stressed the need for the GHADC to implement crucial long-term reforms. These include establishing service rules, improving revenue collection, and implementing other financial reforms to achieve self-sustained financial stability.
The CM also confirmed that similar discussions regarding an advance against future royalty share are also ongoing with the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC). He emphasized that any such support is contingent on the ADCs agreeing to the terms of the conditional arrangement.
