SHILLONG: The state government, Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (SNSBH) along with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council is likely to meet on Thursday to discuss the Village Administration Bill passed by the KHADC.
Stating that the state government is awaiting the confirmation from the KHADC chief executive member by Wednesday, chief minister Mukul Sangma said the meeting aims to keep aside any disconnection and bring clarity on the way forward with regard to empowerment of the traditional institutions.
“The collective discussion was that there will a joint meeting convened by the state government where we will invite the KHADC to be led by the CEM and his delegation along with the SNSBH to discuss the way forward,” he said.
The chief minister further said there was a need to ensure that areas within the jurisdiction of KHADC could have a Village Administration Bill in sync with the expectations, aspirations and needs of the people.
The Bill has been referred to the Union ministry of home affairs because of certain clauses which require the scrutiny of the MHA and other line ministries of the Union government.
MUDA
Speaking of MUDA Building Bye-Laws which are operational even though the government wanted to keep them in abeyance, Sangma said the inconveniences to the stakeholders because of the application of the laws outside the municipal areas have been discussed. He said the urban affairs department would further fine tune the building rules in such a way that they give people more clarity on the time needed for applicants for building occupancy and clearances required under the bye-laws.
Sangma also spoke about the apprehensions of MUDA encroaching upon areas beyond municipal areas and that the state government would explore ways to format the whole procedure properly by looking at the legislative exercise to deal with challenges.
“We will look at the best format made available to the authorities not necessarily MUDA but find out other alternative authorities which should be completely segregated from the authority that enforces certain laws within the municipal areas,” he said.
The authorities are required to ensure safety of the buildings keeping in mind the state’s vulnerability to seismic activities.
