KHADC to seek government intervention

BY A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Sep 2: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), in a meeting with members of the Council of Traditiol Dorbar (COTD) today decided to seek the intervention of the state government with regards to issues concerning both the KHADC and State government.

The delegation of the COTD has also taken a decision to soon meet the Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganthan and District Council Affairs Minister Prestone Tyngsong with the objective to accelerate the assent to the Council of Traditiol Dorbar Bill, 2015 passed by the KHADC.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, KHADC CEM P N Syiem said, “We are confident that the governor will give his assent on the Bill passed by the District Council.”

Stressing the need to set aside the role of District Council and that of MUDA with regard to Meghalaya Building Bye-laws, the delegation felt the importance to meet the Urban Affairs Minister, Ronnie Lyngdoh to discuss on the matter.

 “We need more discussions with the State government with regard to the MUDA building bye-laws to get more clarity on how to go about it,” Syiem said.

“The COTD after examining the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973, which stated that they cannot extend their jurisdiction if no consent has been taken from the Council and till date no consent was taken from the Council and only after consultation with us we are able to decide,” he said.

It may be noted that the issue of MUDA’s alleged encroachment into scheduled areas has contributed to the unstable relationship between the District Council and the state Government with the CEM KHADC taking exception of MUDA’s proposal to implement the Meghalaya Building Bye-law 2011 in the scheduled areas without the consent of the Council.

He stated that the Secretariat has a cordial relationship and he suggested that the two should sit together to discuss issues involving the two. “We should sit together to understand the role of Council and the MUDA,” he said.