SHILLONG: Minister of PWD (Buildings) Ampareen Lyngdoh has expressed concern over encroachment on river banks.
Speaking on ‘Growth of unplanned towns and cities in the North Eastern region of India: Problems and Alleviation measures’ at the inaugural session of North East India Council for Social Science Research (NEICSSR) held at Shillong Law College on Monday, the minister said people have encroached on the banks up to the river despite knowing that there are chances of demolition after 10-15 years.
“Some of my predecessors are no longer alive to answer me as to why they allowed people to build there (houses near rivers),” she added.
However, Lyngdoh said she had advised the chief minister that it would not be fair to dismantle someone’s home. The government is negotiating with people to solve the issue.
“We are trying to speak to them and tell them that we will relocate you. We will locate a land and rework on the entire banks of several rivers,” she said.
With regard to MUDA Building Bye Laws, Lyngdoh recalled the conflicts she faced as certain sections of people opposed payment of building cess.
Stating that building cess is generated for the welfare of labourers as most of them are deprived of basic necessities of life, she said, “Some people think why are they taking money away from us… but then the labourers don’t have a life.”She stated that as per the policies and subsequent laws, there is a cess collection of 1 per cent for every building.
Smart city project
Speaking about smart city, Lyngdoh questioned the need for a smart city project though she observed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put in an effort to create smart city.
Stressing on “smart thinking”, the minister said not all Indians are smart but they are only trying to survive.
She slammed the idea of retrofitting, a component of smart city project, and said, “He (PM) said, ‘Let’s retrofit.’ Who will retrofit? What would you retrofit, when somebody’s kitchen will go four feet back?”
Referring to NEICSSR, she said, “If this intelligent conglomeration of minds and experiences can give us a way out, the government will be very grateful and will take action as per the recommendations to solve the problems.”
Meanwhile, president of NEICSSR, PM Passah told The Shillong Times, “We are going to give our findings and make recommendations to the authorities concerned so that the town and city administration can adopt suitably to the constitutional provisions.”
