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Meghalaya deputy chief minister Preston Tynsong on Wednesday announced the decision of the state cabinet to enhance the price limit for purchase of vehicles to be used by VIPs and officials in the state.

Giving a breakup of the price limit, Tynsong said that for the governor and chief minister, the limit is Rs 40 lakh, deputy chief minister, ministers and chief secretary, the price limit is Rs 20 lakh, Rs 12 lakh for additional chief secretaries, director-general of police, principal secretaries, and principal chief conservator of forest. For commissioner and secretaries and officers of all India services, the price limit is Rs 10 lakh, secretaries Rs 9 lakh, head of departments Rs 7.5 lakh and district level officers Rs 7 lakh.

In the past, Tynsong said, there was no limit especially for the governor and chief minister.

“Enhancing the price limit for VIPs and officials will not send any wrong message to the people of the state. This will instead send good message, because earlier, there was no price limit, and now, we have fixed the price limit for purchase of vehicles,” Tynsong defended.

The cabinet also approved the names of various VIPs who will take the salute and hoist the tri-colour on Independence Day.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma will attend the celebration in the state capital and other ministers will join the celebration in various district headquarters and civil sub divisions.

However no ministers, except officers will take the salute at Tura, the district headquarter of West Garo Hills district, Mawkyrwat, the district headquarter of South West Khasi Hills district and Ranikor Civil Sub Division in view of the model code of conduct being enforced for the upcoming by-elections to South Tura and Ranikor Assembly constituencies slated for August 23.

The chief minister is contesting from South Tura.

The Cabinet also approved the names of retired defence officers, Colonel Gautam Kumar Rai as director of the Meghalaya Sainak Welfare Board, and Major Khumukcham Ibochouba Singh as Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer in the Zilla Sainik.