SHILLONG, APR 27: The Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) is still in the progress of identifying more structures constructed on the banks of Umkhrah and Umshyrpi rivers even as the deadline set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to identify and demolish all unauthorised structures on the banks of the two highly polluted rivers of the city is set to expire on Wednesday.
“Identification of more structures is in progress in municipal as well as non-municipal areas. Notice would be also served in this regard,” sources said adding that MUDA had already served notices to owners of around 200 structures which have come up on the banks of the said rivers.
Sources informed that MUDA has received responses to the notices which were served to owners of 200 structures.
On January 29 , the NGT, through its judicial member UD Salvi and expert member Ranjan Chatterjee, after hearing a petition filed by environmentalist Naba Bhattacharjee passed an order directing MUDA to identify and demolish all unauthorised structures built on the banks of the Umkhrah and the Umshyrpri within three months,The petitioner pleaded before the NGT regarding the need to reclaim and protect the two rivers. Though the NGT passed the order in January, sources informed that the process of serving notices started only in March and April.
Justifying the delay, sources informed that besides the process of identifying the unauthorised structures, other procedures have to be also followed including examination of the order passed by the Gauhati High Court in 2011 on the need to dismantle all illegal structures on the bank of Umkhrah river.
“Therefore it takes time and it is impossible to meet the NGT’s order within the fixed period,” sources said.
On the failure of MUDA to comply with the order within the deadline, sources informed that MUDA would file a submission before the NGT on the steps taken to comply with its directives and the ground reality for the inability to meet the deadline.
In an order and judgment passed by the Gauhati High Court on June 10, 2011 after adjudicating the petitions filed by Greater Iew Polo Welfare Association (GIPWA), an organisation of shop owners who have their structures on the bank of Umkhrah river, had set aside the demolition order dated July 5, 2010 issued by MUDA.
But the court upheld the validity of bylaw 11 of MUDA.
The court, in its order, had also clearly stated that “If MUDA, after making an inquiry, comes to the conclusion that the constructions in dispute have valid sanction, it would pass appropriate orders. If MUDA comes to the conclusion that such constructions are illegal and have no valid sanction or are encroaching upon the public land or such other places, then, after recording such finding, they would be entitled to demolish such constructions.”- By Our Reporter
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