By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 22: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Wednesday unanimously adopted an official resolution urging the state government to amend the Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws, 2021.
The proposed amendment seeks to exempt building permission fees for constructions falling under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low-Income Group (LIG) categories.
The resolution, which also proposes to reduce the minimum setback requirements for smaller plots, aims to address complaints from landowners with limited land areas who have faced difficulties in constructing houses under the existing provisions.
Executive Member in charge of Building Bye-Laws, Pynkhraw Kharjahrin moved the official resolution on the inaugural day of the Council’s summer session.
Moving the resolution, Kharjahrin said that the Council had encountered several issues while implementing the building bye-laws, particularly concerning setbacks for small plots of land measuring below 2000 sq ft.
He informed that the Council has decided to propose in the draft amendment that no building permission fees will be charged for construction projects with an estimated cost of less than Rs 10 lakh under the EWS/LIG category.
Highlighting the proposal to reduce the minimum setbacks for plots abutting road widths, Kharjahrin explained said that for plot areas of 500 sq ft to 750 sq ft, the minimum setback will be 1.5 m (front), 0.75 m (rear), and 0.75 m (sides).
For plot areas of 751 sq ft to 1000 sq ft, he said that the minimum setback will be 1.75 m (front), 0.85 m (rear), and 0.85 m (sides). “For plot areas of 1001 sq ft to 2000 sq ft, the minimum setback will be 2.0 m (front), 0.90 m (rear), and 0.90 m (sides),” the EM said.
Further highlighting on the proposed minimum setbacks for plots abutting non-motorable footpaths, Kharjahrin informed that for plot areas of 500 sq ft to 750 sq ft, the minimum setback will be 1 m (front), 0.75 m (rear), and 0.75 m (sides).
For plot areas of 751 sq ft to 1000 sq ft, the EM informed that the minimum setback will be 1.5 m (front), 0.85 m (rear), and 0.85 m (sides). “For plot areas of 1001 sq ft to 2000 sq ft, the minimum setback will be 1.5 m (front), 0.90 m (rear), and 0.90 m (sides),” he stated.
“The power to make amendments to the Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws, 2021 lies with the State Government,” Kharjahrin clarified.
It may be noted that under the existing Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws, 2021, which the KHADC is presently implementing, no building permission fees are required for plot areas below 50 sq meters falling under the EWS/LIG category.
The 2021 Bye-Laws also include special provisions for small residential plots.
As per table 1(b) of the Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws, 2021, for plot areas of 300 sq ft to 500 sq ft, the minimum setback is 2.1 m (front), 1.0 m (rear), and 1.0 m (sides); for plot areas of 501 sq ft to 750 sq ft, the minimum setback is 2.1 m (front), 1.0 m (rear), and 1.0 m (sides); and for plot areas of 751 sq ft to 1000 sq ft, the minimum setback is 2.5 m (front), 1.5 m (rear), and 1.0 m (sides).
The KHADC will forward the official resolution to the state government for consideration and approval to insert the proposed made by the council by amending the Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws, 2021.
