Traditiol heads reiterate stand against MUDA encroachment

A REPORTER

SHILLONG, July 20: Traditiol heads from the suburb of the city under the leadership of former minister and current headman of Mawlai Nonglum S. D Khongwir on Monday reiterated their stand against MUDAs encroachment into areas under the jurisdiction of the Autonomous District Council while questioning Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) decision to ask the general public for No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by MUDA for acquiring electricity connection.

It may be recalled that on June 30, a delegation of traditiol heads from the suburb of the city met Chief Secretary PBO Warjri to express their disapproval regarding the decision of MUDA to expand its jurisdiction even toward areas under the autonomous districts while also demanding his immediate intervention to ensure that all new houses in scheduled areas are not deprived of electricity supply.

MUDA had earlier issued notices on January 22, which stated that all types of building constructions within the Shillong Master Plan Area require ‘prior permission’ of the MUDA with immediate effect as the schedule of boundaries.

“MUDA acquired their power through the Meghalaya Town and Country planning Act 1973 but in this act it has clearly stated that MUDAs jurisdiction will extend to all the area of the state excluding areas under the jurisdiction of the District Councils,” headman of Mawlai, Nonglum S. D Khongwir told media persons in the city on Monday.

Khongwir said that the MeECL should scrap any prior understanding they have with MUDA since the two are belongs to different departments. Questioning MUDAs encroachment into autonomous district areas Khongwir said, “If it has clearly stated in the Meghalaya Town and Country planning Act 1973 that MUDA has no power to interfere in areas which is still under the jurisdiction of the District Councils then why are they still insisting on asking the people residing outside their jurisdiction to seek permission for new building construction.”

Expressing similar views K. Ryntathiang secretary Synjuk Ki Dorbar Shnong (SKDS) Pynthorumkhrah/Mawpat said that in 2004 there were some amendments which was being made on the Meghalaya Town and Country planning Act 1973 but no changes was made regarding chapter 1 prelimiry of the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973.

According to him, if MUDA wants to extend their jurisdiction into the Autonomous areas they should first discuss or send a notification to the District Councils as stated in the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973.

“We strongly oppose the decision of the MUDA to ask people to seek permission for new building construction and MeECLs reluctance to provide electricity connections to these new buildings unless an NOC from MUDA can be proved even though these houses are outside the jurisdiction of the Municipal,” Ryntathiang said.