By Our reporter
SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has lambasted the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) for its proposed move to implement the Meghalaya Building Bye-laws, 2011 without the consent of the District Council.
“On what basis the MUDA proposes to implement the Meghalaya Building Bye-law 2011 in the scheduled areas without the consent of the Council,” the Chief Executive Member of KHADC Pynshngaiñ N Syiem said while addressing a gathering of the Headman of Shillong and its suburbs here on Thursday.
The CEM said, “According to the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973, if the District Council desires that all or any of the provision of this act should apply to the Autonomous District, a notification may be issued to that effect.”
An amendment of this Act on January 13, 1989 empowered the State Government to apply this act in all areas in the State excluding the areas within the ‘normal areas’ of Shillong. “The amendment was made by bye-passing the 1973 Act,” Syiem said.
“The implementation of the Meghalaya Building Bye Law 2011 in all areas in the State is illegal,” the CEM said adding that people now complain about high handedness of MUDA officials in regards to construction and renovation of houses.
“The State Government has cheated the District Council in terms of land, water and forest”, the CEM said adding “It is high time for the Council to strengthen the indigenous community by turning to the Sixth Schedule.”
“But for this, we need cooperation of Dorbar Shnong, Dorbar Hima, Rangbah Shnong and the community as a whole”, he said.
Echoing similar views, others present at the meeting said it was high time to do something to stop enactment of these acts “which will go a long way in reducing the power of the Dorbar Shnong and Dorbar Hima and in return would affect the traditional practices of the indigenous community.”
Reacting to the demand of the headmen to call a special session of the KHADC, Syiem said “At the moment, we will examine this problem in the EC meeting and we will later see what can be done in this respect.”
The CEM also agreed to allow the two Dorbar Hima -Hima Mylliem and Hima Khyrim– to hold the Dorbar Hima.
Earlier, the Headmen of Shillong and its suburbs, Myntris of Hima Mylliem and Hima Khyrim led by Nongthymmai MDC, Latiplang Kharkongor submitted a memorandum to the CEM requesting him to take note of the various acts and notifications of the state government which were passed without the knowledge of the Dorbar Shnong and Dorbar Hima.
The others present at the gathering were MDC of Mylliem T Dkhar, MDC of Laitumkhrah Antonio War, MLA and MDC of Laban, Sanbor Shullai, Chairman of the Khlieh Nongsynshar, John F Kharshiing.