Wahumkhrah demolition: SC defers hearing to Oct 6

SHILLONG: The issue of demolition of buildings along Wahumkhrah will come up for hearing in Supreme Court on October 6.
Though the matter was listed on September 30 as item number 16,  it was not taken due to paucity of time and hence it was again listed for  October 6, the  Government Counsel in Supreme Court Ranjan Mukherjee said over phone from Delhi on Wednesday.
Earlier on September 18, the Supreme Court had extended the stay till September 30 against the order of the High Court of Meghalaya to demolish illegal constructions along the Wahumkhrah river.
The Supreme Court, in the interim order on September 14, had given relief to as many as 30 families when MUDA was set to  demolish their buildings as per the High Court order.
The  National Green Tribunal (NGT) in January this year had ordered  dismantling of all unauthorized structures along the Wahumkhrah within three months.
Following this,  MUDA had served several notices to families residing along the Wahumkhrah.
Later,  30 petitioners had filed a case in the civil court which had stayed the demolition order.
After MUDA challenged the order of the civil court, the High Court vacated the stay and asked MUDA to carry out demolition of the illegal structures, however, giving option for the petitioners to approach the Supreme Court as per the NGT Act since civil court was not the right forum. Following this, the petitioners  filed a petition in the Supreme Court and secured an interim stay of the order of the High Court.