By Anup Biswas

Haflong : Stating it as a historical achievement for the people of Dima Hasao, Debolal Gorlosa, Chief Executive Member of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council today said that the long pending issues of the council including Neepco revenue sharing has finally been attended and solved by the co operation of the State government.

Assuring the employees of the council sector to pay their arrear salary of 10 (ten)  months and also the pending gratuity of those retired council employees, CEM Gorlosa said that these pending dues will be cleared before the Durga puja. The district will also now get its rightful share from the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) for the first time since its setting up in the year 1976.

Gorlosa said, “I am really thankful to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal ji and our Finance Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma ji for their constant support in solving this pertaining and decade old issue”.

It is worth mentioning that though the Kopili Hydro Electric Project Plant, the maiden venture of NEEPCO is located on the river Kopili in the Dima Hasao District of Assam, the district had never benefitted in monitory terms since it came into existence in 1976. But with sheer dedication of the current council authorities including the officials, the state government has agreed to 50% of its share from NEEPCO with Dima Hasao district which will partly solve the revenue issue of NCHAC.

In his speech Executive Member Samuel Changsan praised the energy and dedication of Debolal Gorlosa which has brought solution to the long pending issues of NCHAC. He spoke in details about the constant follow-ups and meetings at Dispur by their council team that followed after the visit of the Assam Finance Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma to Haflong on 9th July last. Stating the increase in revenue income of the council compared to Rs.17 crore in the year 2013-14 to whooping Rs.42 crore excluding Rs.20 crore from APGCL this year, council is on track of self sustenance. He also spoke in details regarding the proposal of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) package for employees whose service completed 20 years of service of the council.

The government has agreed to consider VRS package for those council employee whose service have completed 20 years and those who may not be in a condition to deliver their duties on medical ground. Mukut Kemprai Principal Secretary, Normal sector, informed that the decision for VRS is solely upon the employee and those who seek for it may apply or submit no objection certificate (NOC) to the authority at the council for further procedure. The supplementary demand for the same shall be placed by the council in the upcoming session at the Assembly in September.

Narrating about the past, MLA BB Hagjer spoke under what circumstances district council had come into its existence and how with due course of time the gradual pressure of burden was borne by the council. He lauded the dedication of the team of executive committee and the officials for the landmark achievement of NCHAC.

Chairperson Ranu Langthasa also spoke on the occasion and said that this is one of the biggest achievements of the council since recent times and expressed her pleasure on being able to see sight of contentment in the faces of the council normal sector employees.