Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to approach State on Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) certificate issue

SHILLONG: After constant complaints from residents residing in areas under the jurisdiction of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) over the issue of having to avail an occupancy certificate from Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to get access to electricity and water connection, the KHADC Executive Member in-charge Mines and Minerals, Latiplang Kharkongor, on Thursday informed that by next week a delegation from the Council will approach the Chief Minister and the Urban Affairs Minister concerning this issue.

“In a meeting held on May 15 this year with various government officials, traditional heads, members of the district council and also in the presence of the Minister in-charge of Urban Affairs it was decided that for an interim period the government will direct the department of PHE and MeECL to consider relaxation of the MUDA building by-law to residents under the KHADC areas who are applying for water connection and electricity connection in their newly constructed house or building however till today this has not been followed,” Kharkongor told reporters at his office.

He said that almost five months have passed since the meeting held in May in which the decision was taken to relax the need to obtain an occupancy certificate from MUDA for residents under the district council, however still many residents residing in areas under KHADC are coming forwards and complaining. “The people are confused because it was decided to be relaxed to obtain an occupancy certificate for newly constructed house or building from MUDA for areas under the jurisdiction of KHADC form PHE for water connection and from MeECL for electric connection and this has created plenty of problems for the public,” he said. He said that till date both the PHE and MeECL is still asking the public residing in areas under KHADC to produce the occupancy from MUDA and because of this the people are suffering. “I will consult this matter with the KHADC CEM HS Shylla on the need to send a delegation of Executive Members of the district council to the government to discuss this matter with the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and with the Urban Affairs Minister Hamlet Dohling at the earliest by next week,” he said.