KHADC to meet govt for clarity over building byelaws issue

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 9, 2019

SHILLONG: The KHADC has decided to soon meet the state government for clarity on the notification to hand over the power to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) for issuing of building permissions, after it was found to have many defects.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Executive Member (EM) in-charge Town Committees Paul Lyngdoh here on Thursday in the presence of Deputy Chief Executive Member (Dy.CEM) in-charge Elaka Pyniaid Syiem and EM in-charge Land Titos Chyne.

“It was decided that the council will be meeting the state government in order to get more clarity on the notification, which in its present form have many shortfalls,” Lyngdoh told reporters after the meeting.

He said the meeting has discussed at length on how to minimize the problems faced by the people in view of the confusion arising out of the government notification, which seeks to demarcate the jurisdiction between the ADCs and the MUDA.

The notification issued by the Urban Affairs Department on February 1, this year had notified the three ADCs – KHADC, JHADC & GHADC to implement the building bye-laws in areas outside municipalities.

At the same time, the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) was also notified as the authority for giving building permissions for areas under municipal areas and scheme areas.

The notification also states – “The public desirous for applying building permission in the areas outside municipal limits may approach either of the above authorities (MUDA or ADCs) for obtaining their sanction of building permission, occupancy certificates, etc.”

When asked, Lyngdoh said one of the major defects is that the notification was based on the Meghalaya Building Byelaws, 2011, which has no mention about the areas falling under the respective ADCs.

“The byelaws clearly states that it shall apply to all municipal and scheme areas notified or to be notified from time to time within the state. This means that the ADC areas are not included in the byelaws so we want to know in what way it will be applicable in our areas,” he said.

With regards to another concern, Lyngdoh said there is also a provision in the notification which says that the applicant can go either to the MUDA or the ADCs for obtaining the building permissions.

“Therefore, there is ambiguity in this provision and this will pave way for an applicant who has been denied permission by the MUDA to approach the ADC and those who are denied by the ADC to get permission from the MUDA,” he said.

The executive member further informed that many people have also expressed concern in view that the MUDA has decided to stop issuing building permission in areas outside municipal.

Due to this confusion, banks have also stopped to process the applications of people who are applying for housing loans, he said.

Lyngdoh said that he would also brief the executive committee on the outcome of today’s meeting and side by side to meet the state government so that this issue which has been pending for the past three years can be resolved once and for all.