SHILLONG: The Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (SNSBH) in its executive committee meeting on June 3, has petitioned chief minister Mukul Sangma on the pending issues faced by the traditional institutions and village heads in Khasi Hills relating to VAB and MUDA Building Bye-Laws.
When contacted on whether they have fixed date to meet the Chief Minister, general secretary of SNSBH, RL Blah said, “We are waiting for a reply from the chief minister.”
The SNSBH pointed to the last meeting, which was held on August 31 last year, reminding him of the State Government’s endeavor to find solutions to problems afflicting the people of the state through a process of dialogue taking into account the concerns and views of all the stakeholders.
“In this regard, we would like to know from your end the latest position of the Village Administration Bill (VAB). It was also learnt that the KHADC had attended to all the 12 queries raised by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the same has been forwarded to the State Government being the ultimate authority to send those queries to MHA,” they stated.
They added that the long pending issue of the VAB has disheartened all the members of the respective Dorbars, who are anxiously waiting for the passage of the Bill.
With regard to MUDA encroachment, the SNSBH asserted that the State Government has not taken any steps in this regard and sought a clarification on the matter and also the status of the case before the Supreme Court of India; which had been long pending since the last hearing which was scheduled way back in March 2016.
“The Synjuk is of the opinion that the State Government had illegally encroached upon areas not mandated under the law based on the Town And Country Planning Act 1973 Sub-Section (2) of Section 1 of the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973 clearly states in sub-section (2) of Section 1 that it shall extend to the whole of Meghalaya excluding the Autonomous Districts,” they said.
The SNSBH contended that the jurisdiction may be extended only “when the concerned Autonomous District Council desires to do so” and that the bye-laws of Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) derived its source of law from the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973.
Maintaining that the safety of life and property is a priority and being on the 5th seismic zone, the SNSBH stated that they are not against safety measures that should be in place.
“However, we insist that the government of the day takes on board the ADC concerned who is the constitutional custodian of the Sixth scheduled areas before illegally encroaching and implementing any building bye laws,” the pressure group stated.
The SNSBH stated that such ‘burning core issues’ are not seriously addressed by the Government on a priority basis, the Synjuk has no other alternative but to succumb to mounting public pressure and place before them the failures of the incumbent Government.
The pressure group is aggrieved by the lethargic attitude of the State Government of not issuing the minutes of the last meeting (held on August 31).
“Despite constant requests, whereby the copy of the said minutes was delivered after a long gap of five months i.e. on 14 February 2017. Hopefully, such unwarranted delay will be avoided in the near future,” the SNSBH said.
