NPP office should be sealed if allegations true: Opp

SHILLONG, May 29: Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma has maintained that the new National People’s Party (NPP) office should be sealed lest it is found to be not conforming to building bylaws.
Addressing media persons here, Mukul contended that buildings have been sealed in the past for not adhering to building bylaws and there should be no exception for the new NPP office.
It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) had alleged that the new NPP office here is being constructed without obtaining the approval from the Meghalaya Urban Development Agency (MUDA).
Now, the Leader of the Opposition has said that he is yet to find out if the charges are true.
“I have to find out; I’m yet to know, because somebody has to tell us whether the authorities have allowed it (construction) to happen,” he said.
Suggesting that the authorities should take cognisance of the allegations, Mukul said that the new building should be sealed if the charges are true. “Law should apply to everybody,” he said.
It may be mentioned that MPYC vice president, Banphira Basaiawmoit, had alleged that new office of the ruling NPP here is being constructed by flouting government norms.
“It seems the authorities turned a blind eye to the massive construction going on in order to please the masters. But in the case of ordinary citizens, even if you expand the existing building without approval, the authorities are alert enough to serve you with a notice and penalty. This is construed to be a blatant misuse of power by the ruling dispensation,” the Youth Congress leader had said.
He also questioned as to how such a structure can be constructed without approval and why the MUDA has not issued notices.
He had further asked under whose instructions the MUDA has turned blind eye to the same.
The foundation of the office, being constructed near Polo grounds, was laid on September 1, 2020. The building is almost 70 per cent complete.