SHILLONG: Former KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem has asked the state government to convene a special session of the Assembly to amend the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973, with an aim to end the alleged encroachment of the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) on scheduled areas.
Speaking at a meeting organised by the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong (SKNS) Upper Shillong, at Umlyngka here on Saturday, Syiem lambasted the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for creating the problems faced by the residents of sixth schedule areas.
Syiem also urged people, who are affected by MUDA’s encroachment, to demand their respective public representatives to withdraw support from the MUA-II government, if it fails to resolve the problems arising out of such encroachment.
“If they (MLAs) do not dare to do so, it is time that they should be taught a lesson in the upcoming 2018 elections,” he said.
Interestingly, Urban Affairs Minister Ronnie V Lyngdoh, who is also a sitting legislator of Mylliem constituency, skipped the meeting.
Earlier, former KHADC chairperson and sitting MDC of Mylliem Teilinia Thangkhiew said MUDA’s encroachment is nothing but a move by those at the helm of affairs to avail central schemes. Thangkhiew even urged the MLAs supporting the Mukul Sangma government to withdraw support if the government does not consider exempting Upper Shillong area and other villages from the purview of the MUDA.
On the other hand, SNSBH secretary RL Blah said that the Synjuk had met the state government to discuss on the matter at least nine times and yet no action has been visible till date from its part in resolving the problem.
Meanwhile, the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Upper Shillong, comprises of 12 villages and the meeting which was attended by the residents of 12 villages have unanimously resolved to oppose the alleged forcibly implementation of the building bye-laws by the MUDA in the area.
