SHILLONG, July 28 - Legislator Sanbor Shullai of National Congress Party (NCP), a partner in the ruling Congress-led Government, has demanded immediate withdrawal of �illegally implemented� Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) building bye-laws from Scheduled Areas of Khasi Hills.
Shullai, former Deputy Speaker, said, he met Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and placed his demand through a memorandum and a number of documents to prove that implementation of the building bye-laws is illegal in the Scheduled Areas and therefore should be withdrawn.
The Minister assured of going through the documents and then take a decision. �She has sought 15 days time to go through the documents and our demand and take a decision,� Shullai said.
He said, MUDA has been charging Rs 3 lakh for residential building permission. However, the same permission is being given by the traditional heads in Scheduled Areas for Rs 1500. The permission for commercial building given by MUDA costs between Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. �It is illegal, MUDA has no authority in Schedule Areas,� the former Deputy Speaker said.
In the memorandum, Shullai said, MUDA and Municipal Corporation has jurisdiction to administer only in the European Ward of the State Capital � a small area comprising Police Bazaar, Keating Road and a few other places. The Cantonment area is being governed by the Cantonment Board. The rest of the areas in the State Capital fall under the administration of the district council.
Quoting a Supreme Court order of 1975, Shullai said, some of the Scheduled Areas in the State Capital were ceded to the Municipality for administration, but solely for administration of health and sanitation. �The Municipality has no other authority in these Scheduled Areas other than overseeing health and sanitation,� Shullai said quoting the Supreme Court order.
