By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 10: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has detected many illegally constructed houses at the New Shillong Township (NST).
The council said the houses, detected during an inspection carried out by its officials at Diengiong, Mawdiangdiang, Siejiong and Mawkasiang areas of the NST on Thursday, were constructed without obtaining necessary permission from the council.
KHADC Chief Engineer F Syiem told reporters the officials had inspected 80 houses and found that building permission was obtained for the construction of only about 10 of them.
Asked if any action will be taken against those who did not obtain permission, he said, “We cannot take stringent action or demolish these structures. We are appealing to the people to apply for the building permission. We are closely working with the Dorbar Shnongs to implement the building bye-laws.”
Syiem also said that the council has requested the house owners to complete the formalities as laid down in the building bye-laws.
He said people will no longer need to go to the office of the Syiem of Mylliem after getting the NOC from the Dorbar Shnong. He said they can visit the office of the council to apply for building permission.
Syiem mentioned that the KHADC began implementing the building bye-laws from October 2022.
“While we are keen on implementing the building bye-laws in totality, we also understand that there will be some hurdles in the initial stages,” he said.
To a query, he said most people, who now visit the office of the council to seek building permission, are those who have applied for housing loans. But those who can afford to construct their houses on their own do not come to seek the permission, he added.
“They would come to the council only when they are told by the PHE and the MeECL to get the occupancy certificate which is required for water and electricity connection,” Syiem said.
He said the fee charged by the council is much lesser when compared to that of MUDA. He said the council is trying to exempt the BPL families from paying the building permission fee.
“We are trying to streamline the whole process to ensure that there is no delay in the issuance of building permission. If there is any delay, it is caused by the applicants’ failure to submit the drawings on time after they were advised to rectify the same as per the provisions of MUDA building bye-laws,” Syiem said.
He said the building permission is normally issued within two weeks.