The state Cabinet in its first sitting held on Thursday approved the Bill to repeal the much opposed Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 in the Assembly’s budget session, which will commence from March 20.
It also approved the appointment of three spokespersons of the government – Ampareen Lyngdoh, Paul Lyngdoh and Marcuise N Marak.
Addressing pressmen, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “As you are aware we had passed an ordinance to repeal the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021. Today as the session is on we are going to put it in the form of a Bill (so that) the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act will be repealed.”
Sangma said the ordinance was passed when the session is not on to enforce a particular act. “The ordinance was cleared earlier but now that the session is on this is the correct platform now to regularize the repealing of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021.”
He also informed that the cabinet has also approved the Contingency Fund of Meghalaya (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
He also announced the cabinet’s decision to appoint three official spokespersons of the government. “Apart from myself and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong, we have decided that Ampareen Lyngdoh, Paul Lyngdoh and Marcuise Marak – will be the official spokesperson of the Cabinet.”
When asked, the chief minister said a full budget will be passed in the coming budget session adding that the business advisory committee (BAC) will meet on Monday to finalize the dates.
“It is healthy (to pass the budget before March 31). It is good to do it as we can start the work and process quickly as now if we go only for vote on account then it will be only for the first quarter and then we will have to meet again and so the full budget picture does not come. The team has been working in the last many months to complete the budget exercise which started long time back even before the elections were announced. Therefore, the finance department is ready with a full budget,” he added.