Shillong: Towards promoting sustainable urban development in Meghalaya, the state Cabinet approved amendments to the Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws 2021 on Friday.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma highlighted that these amendments align with provisions set forth by the Government of India.
“This is also to ensure that overall safety of the buildings and also to ensure that the smaller land holdings, there could be more utilisation of the land by small landowners, because earlier there was some restrictions in terms of the gap that you had to leave from the front and the rear and the sides. That has been reduced and some other amendments have been made, like the height of the buildings that are permissible, and also to the construction of buildings in areas which are 50 plus degrees and higher slopes, certain provisions will apply,” the chief minister explained.
Further, the Cabinet greenlit the Shillong Urban Mobility Policy 2024, designed to improve overall mobility in the city. This policy encompasses initiatives such as enhancing public transportation, expanding pedestrian spaces, alleviating traffic congestion, and establishing adequate parking facilities.
“So, this policy just gives an outline on how we will approach that. But most importantly, both the amendment to the Meghalaya building Bye Laws 2021 and the Shillong Urban Mobility Policy, these amendments and these particular policies have also been adopted with the intention of also ensuring that we are able to avail the special assistance on capital investment for urban areas,” Sangma said.
He underscored that these policy changes also aim to leverage special assistance earmarked by the Government of India for capital investment in urban areas. Out of the allocated 15,000 crores, Meghalaya has proposed 619 crores, with approvals already secured for nearly 500 crores. The remaining 100 crores are anticipated upon finalising the amendments and policies.
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Meghalaya is projected to receive 597 crores in special assistance. Sangma said that larger states like Uttar Pradesh and Assam also are receiving roughly about 500 crores which is the same as what Meghalaya is expected to receive.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the draft of the governor’s address for 2024 and the Meghalaya Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act 2006. Furthermore, the Meghalaya Engineering Public Works Department Service Rules 1995 underwent amendments, with the Cabinet opting for the introduction of fresh rules to accommodate necessary changes, thereby scrapping the old regulations.
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