The leases, originally issued in the 1930s, began expiring in
2017 and permission for new constructions cannot be granted
on expired leases. However, leases can currently be extended for
one year, provided outstanding rent is collected. The Cantonment Board has already issued demand notices for this purpose
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 15: The Shillong Cantonment Board has clarified that it cannot issue building permissions for land holdings where leases have expired.
For nearly a decade, very few new buildings have been constructed in the Jhalupara area, forcing residents to continue living in wooden houses despite significant increases in family sizes. It is learned that 90% of the leases issued decades ago have already expired.
Speaking on the issue, Shillong Cantonment Board CEO Ayush Maurya stated that the board follows its own building byelaws. “As per the Floor Space Index (FSI) limit, we grant building permissions, but the problem is that most of the leases have expired,” he explained.
The leases, originally issued in the 1930s, began expiring in 2017. Maurya further clarified that permission for new constructions cannot be granted on expired leases. However, he added that leases can currently be extended for one year, provided outstanding rent is collected. The Cantonment Board has already issued demand notices for this purpose.