Shillong, Feb 9: Cabinet has approved the amendments to the Meghalaya Building Bye Laws 2021and the Shillong Urban Mobility Policy 2024 to ensure safety of buildings and improve public transportation.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma told reporters after the cabinet meeting that amendments are being made in line with the provisions of the Centre to ensure safety of buildings, proper utilisation of land for smaller land owners, permissible height of buildings and others.
As far as urban mobility policy is concerned, the chief minister said as mandated by the Centre to ensure that mobility improves in Shillong, a policy had to be formulated which should include aspects of public transportation, creation of walking and parking spaces and others for sustainable urban development in Meghalaya.
Both the amendment and policy have been adopted, so the state can avail the Special Assistance on Capital Investment for Urban Areas Scheme.
The Centre has earmarked Rs 15000 crore for the scheme and to avail this, certain guidelines and policies have been necessitated.
“We have put in a proposal of Rs 619 crore for Meghalaya for which we have received approval for close to Rs 500 crore and we expect another Rs 100 crore to be approved after the amendments and policies are put in place”, the chief minister added.
Building restrictions
No building permission will be given for land that has a fifty degree slope or above. The building should be constructed keeping in mind the safety. For buildings that are 40 degree and above, there are also certain restrictions that will be put in terms of the height and the space one can occupy.
Buildings above 27 metres should get permission from the government. Earlier, it was 40 metres, now the height of the building has been reduced to 27 metres”, he said.
Chief Minister said the amendments also seek to give more space to people to construct their buildings by minimising the land and the gap between the boundary wall.
