Maximum height of residential buildings raised up to 65 feet
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Good news for owners of high-rises — the State Government has made some relaxations in fixing the maximum heights for residential and commercial buildings following public demand. According to the latest notification of the Meghalaya Building Bye Laws 2011, maximum limit for residential buildings has been raised from 42 feet to 65 feet while that of special category buildings has been fixed at 90 feet.
“The decision was taken due to public demand,” Urban Affairs Minister FS Cajee told reporters here on Monday.
“The new bye law has to be followed by contractors and architects in their new construction projects,” Cajee said. The earlier limit of 42 feet fixed for residential buildings, considering the seismic zone under which the State falls, was not accepted by many city residents whose houses already crossed the limit and needs to be demolished if the Government norm is to be enforced. The new maximum height of 90 feet for special category buildings also brought a huge respite for many commercial buildings like hospitals, market complex, etc. The new building bye-laws consist of norms on parking facilities, distance between the house and the road and with that of the neighbour’s house. Besides, there are norms related to connections of electricity, power, and water. Rainwater harvesting would be made compulsory in the new building bye-laws, the Urban Affairs Minister said. When asked about the reason for increasing the building height limit despite Meghalaya falling under the Seismic Zone 5, Cajee said building permissions would be granted only after getting seismic certificates, soil testing certificates etc. The new bye-laws would be applicable to only those areas within the jurisdiction of Shillong Municipal Board, but, Cajee said, the Government would try to enforce them in district headquarters like Nongpoh, Jowai and Nongstoin and also subdivisional headquarters in future.