A CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, Aug 5: The state government today said that the Meghalaya Building-Bye Laws was ected to ensure the safety and security of the residents from tural disasters even as it said that the bye law was applicable to all the Master Plan Areas in the state.
Addressing jourlists today after reports of opposition from various quarters on the alleged encroachment of the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) into the "scheduled areas", additiol chief secretary in-charge Urban Affairs Prashant ik said that the Master Plan areas were mapped "to ensure a planned city for a better standard of living."
He also said that the MUDA building bye-laws are already being implemented in the schedule areas as municipal areas are already part of schedule areas.
Meanwhile, the MUDA director, B Dutta added that the Shillong Master Plan Area was approved way back in 1992 while the building byelaw was there since 2001.
According to Dutta, the areas under the Shillong Municipal Board, Shillong Cantonment Board and Census Towns like-Mawlai, Nongthymmai, Pynthorumkharh, Madanrting and 32 other villages are part of the Shillong Master Plan Area.
The Urban Affairs department director also informed that as per the master plan it extends to Umiam in the north, Laitkor in the south, Mawpdang in the east and Elephant Falls junction in the west.
Dutta also said that these byelaws shall apply to all the master plan areas and scheme areas notified or to be notified from time to time within the State.
"The MUDA building byelaws are also being enforced in Tura, Jowai and wherever there is master plan scheme areas like Byrnihat and those areas where building activities have and is taking place and are prone to disaster," Dutta said.
He also said that the structural design is being implemented by the MUDA as per the tiol Building Code Standard.
Further, the principal secretary Urban Affairs, ik said that the building fees charged by the MUDA are nomil.
On asked if the Executive Order passed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on building bye laws will stand, ik said, "MUDA building byelaws is valid for the whole state, we are the only one accountable for building permission and nobody else."
ik also pointed out that a state law will supersede the law passed by the district council.
Refusing to be directly drawn into the debate, ik said that in the concurrent list if there is clash between the acts of the union and state, the union government's act will prevail upon the state.
It may be noted that on August 3, the KHADC passed an executive order for implementation of its own approved building byelaws in the scheduled areas of the region.