By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Despite the Government’s repeated promise to enforce the building norms in the city, no action has been visible against the illegal structures, including some belonging to the high and mighty, so far, observed a panel discussion on Meghalaya Building Bye laws here on Sunday.
There are as many as 40 buildings in the city which had violated the section 11 and 12 of the Meghalaya Building Bye laws 2001, Timmy Hujon, a panel member said.
“One of the buildings of AL Hek (Water Resource Minister) violated the building bye-laws when he was the chairman of MUDA,” said Hujon, also a member of the Snow White rock band adding that most of the buildings in the city which has violated the building bye-laws are of influential people.
The State Cabinet recently formulated the new bye-laws increasing the limit of building heights from 42 to 65 feet for residential apartments and up to 95 feet in case of commercial complexes.
The relaxation in building height norms was allegedly made keeping in mind select people whose houses have violated the height limit and who also have strong influence in the government.
Hujon pointed out that no building in the city has been demolished till date for violation of the bye-laws even though there are plenty of such cases.
“It seems the Government framed the building bye laws in a hurry to protect someone,” Nongkrem legislator Aredent Basaiawmoit said during the panel discussion.
“If high-rises are built here, water and power supply would be very difficult,” Basaiawmoit added.
The panel discussion held to deliberate on the pros and cons of the new building bye-laws raised concern over the vulnerability of high-rises in the city which falls under high seismic zone.
Convener of Maitshaphrang Movement, Michael Syiem said the new bye-laws would aggravate the congestion in the city. He also pointed out that a state like Meghalaya does not even have the technology to construct earthquake-proof buildings.
Though the new bye-laws say that there should be parking facilities in new buildings and minimum specified space between the building and the road, as well as between two neighbours, experts say the bye-laws would lead to further congestion in the city.
However, environment and infrastructure consultant Naba Bhattacharjee termed the bye-laws an improved version of the earlier norms, but observed that the Government should have sought suggestions from the public before finalising the bye-laws.
Town Planning Officer of MUDA, BRM Lyngdoh, maintained that the Government had tried to plug the loopholes in the new bye-laws.
The panel discussion was also attended by architects and representatives from the traditional bodies and students besides others.