How come building by-laws be flouted so glaringly?

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 29: Violation of rules while constructing multi-storey buildings is rampant in the city with several such high rises being constructed on the bank of the Brahmaputra. Most of these buildings and under construction structures are precariously placed on the bank of the mighty river.

It is quite surprising how these buildings are allowed to be constructed on the river bank, allegedly flouting all the rules and regulations of the Guwahati Development Department (GDD). As per the existing GDD order (GDD/54/97/741, dated the 25th July, 2012), “Permission may be given up to G+2 floors purely for residential buildings only. However, building permission will be restricted in hill areas, eco sensative and green belt areas, all existing water bodies, 15 metres from river bank and 10 metres from existing tural drain,” adding, “in respect to the permissions pending for commercial and high rise buildings, the committee will examine and submit report separately. Action will be taken as per the decisions arrived at and communicated.”  It may be mentioned here that a committee was formed for examining the pending building permissions with GMDA and GMC. The first meeting of the committee was held on July 19, 2012, which has made the recommendations for giving building permissions within the city.

It is often seen that eviction drives are carried out in different parts of the city to make these areas encroachment free, but how these new high rise buildings are mysteriously allowed to be constructed along the river bank by the authorities concerned is a matter of serious issue.  

Many such new constructions are currently being taken place along the river bank, flouting the ‘15 metres from river bank and 10 metres from existing tural drain’ rule, stretching from Kharghuli to Kalipur, and most of these structures are precariously placed.  

There are over 350 locations in the city, mostly in the hillocks, which are vulnerable to landslides. With rapid urbanization, people migrating to the city from different parts of the State are preferring to settle in the hillocks, aggravating the problem. In such a scerio, construction of high rises along the river bank is only making the whole situation worse.