Editor,
It is extremely sad and most worrisome to see the political football being played between the District Council and the State Government regarding implementation of the Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws at the cost of safety and security of the citizens of the state. From day one, it was a known fact that transferring the right to implement the bye-laws to the District Councils will be a disaster in itself and would not only be illegal but fraught with huge risks; the state being situated in Zone 5 of the Seismic Zoning Atlas of the country. Also, not forgetting the fact that that the District Councils have neither the means or the capacity to take upon themselves this important technical responsibility, forget about framing its own bye-laws. This was only a political gimmick at the cost of safety of the citizens. But the powers that be and the strange equations that work in our State, the Government of the day felt it prudent to absolve itself of this responsibility and pass on this important function to the District Council.
One thing the State Government failed to understand is that the law under which the Building-Bye Laws are framed, is a state law and it is the State Government which is responsible for its implementation and Government cannot absolve itself of the responsibility. God forbid if there is a disaster or some building were to collapse tomorrow, I wonder what would be the stand of the State Government. They cannot say that we have transferred this function to the District Councils and are therefore freed of all responsibility. They will be held accountable and have to face the consequences.
Building Bye-Laws are not only tools to control the height of the buildings but also regulates the growth, expansion and density of a city. They play a major role in ensuring safety, well being and health and hygiene of the residents and leads to orderly development. Building Bye-Laws are not to be looked at in isolation but have to be read in conjunction with the Master Plan, Zoning Regulations and other development controls in the city. Without really understanding why building bye-laws are important for a city our leaders are playing politics with it thinking that it would bring them monetary reward.
I often wonder that if there is clamour tomorrow that PWD, Health and Power Supply be transferred to the District Council on the same grounds that building bye-laws was transferred, will the state Government take the risk to leave the design and implementation of roads, bridges, power plants etc., to the District Councils. It seems we did not learn our lessons from the fiasco of Primary Education of yester years and it will require the intervention of the judiciary to set the matter right. After all it was the intervention of the judiciary in the year 2014 that to some extent controlled the violation that was taking place with high-rise buildings in Shillong.
We are a state situated in the most vulnerable seismic zone and an earthquake could hit us at any moment. The need of the hour is to be extra cautious and stringent in our building activities and development process. Instead, it seems that the present government is more into a policy of appeasement without any care of what may happen tomorrow and the safety of its citizens.
Yours etc.,
B. Dutta,
Shillong-1
Rising fuel prices
Editor.
Petrol prices breached the Rs 100 mark per litre in Shillong and now the state capital has joined the list of many Indian cities where petrol has now jumped to three figures. Fuel price hike has a cascading effect on the daily life of the common man. From the government’s viewpoint, the increase in price may be inescapable but its impact goes from bad to worse and hits the poor and the middle class. This section will surely be paralyzed and burdened with such price hikes that are unstable. It is a no brainer that this, directly and indirectly, filters down to every sector of the economy. The impact is severe and a major part of their income is absorbed due to inflation. Starting from the transportation cost to price of goods to groceries these price hikes are digging a hole into the pockets of people and the chain keeps propagating further. However, since there is no negative impact on the enthusiastic devotees so they will never complain . They believe what they are told – that they are sacrificing for their greater good and long term gain . That is how they accepted demonetization .
Government is taxing the middle class that aspires for a good life, but ends up paying taxes to the rich and a good chunk of that money is being used for reducing corporate tax , and bailouts. The rich and the corrupt transfer the burden to the common man and the chain reactions widen. The cronies of the country do not work for the welfare of society; they are instead more bothered about their own wealth creation. Who cares for the middle class when the super-rich, the politicians and top government officials are spared from such agony because they don’t pay their own fuel bills. They are paid by their businesses or the Government the and rest be damned.
Yours etc.,
Advocate M Haque,
Shillong-6