KHADC ready with its building bye-laws

SHILLONG, AUG 19: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) all parties MDCs meeting decided to meet the state government to demand withdrawal of the MUDA building byelaws to pave way for operation of the council’s building byelaws in the scheduled areas from next month.

This decision was taken at an all-party MDC meeting convened by the KHADC chief Pynshngainlang N Syiem on Wednesday.

“We have unanimously decided to lead a delegation of all the MDCs to meet the urban affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh to apprise her that the council is ready with its building byelaws, which will be implemented from September 1,” Syiem told newsmen after the meeting.

According to him, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Land Development and Building Regulations) 2015 was framed as per the United Khasi – Jaintia Hills District (Establishment of Town Committee) Act, 1960, which empowers the council to regulate building constructions.

He said, “The LDBR was also notified and published in the Meghalaya Gazette on August 13.”

Stating that meeting has also resolved to oppose the alleged illegal implementation of MUDA building byelaws in schedule areas, Syiem said, “We would also seek for its immediate withdrawal since its implementation is against the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1793.”

While the state has implemented byelaws based on Section 10, he however said, “But as per the sub section 2 of section 1 of the principal Act it has clearly stated that “it shall extend to the whole of Meghalaya excluding the Autonomous District,” adding  “The Act also stated-if the District Council desires that all or any of the provisions of this Act should apply to Autonomous District concerned, a notification is to be issued to that effect and the Act shall be applied to the Autonomous District concerned.”

“Going by the Act, the state had never taken the consent of the district council while deciding to implement the byelaws in the schedule areas,” Syiem said.

When asked, the KHADC chief said, “If required, the MDCs would also meet chief minister Mukul Sangma on the issue.”

Claiming that everything is in place to ensure smooth implementation of the council’s building byelaws, Syiem said, “We have notified the Land Development and Building Regulations which will be equipped with architects, engineers and staffs.”

“Based on this, we have decided to implement the building byelaws from September 1, which residents residing under scheduled areas can start applying for building permission from the district council and traditional institutions,” the CEM said.

Meanwhile, HSPDP MDCs did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.- By Our Reporter