Shillong, June 4: The state cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal for direct purchase of land required for the expansion of Shillong Airport.
Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the expansion work for the Shillong Airport runway necessitates an additional area of 11.75 acres to be procured.
“Therefore, a committee was set up, headed by the Deputy Commissioner, which held negotiations with the local people to finalise the rates and the different compensations that had to be paid. And after detailed discussions and negotiations, a total amount of Rs 72.17 crore has been arrived at for the compensation to be paid for the land, trees, crop, and building to be acquired in that area, for the expansion of the runway.
Heritage Act
Cabinet has approved the amendment to the Meghalaya Heritage Act, 2012. This is being done in line with the government’s submission to the UNESCO for the Living Root Bridges to be declared as a world heritage site and for the government to be able to strengthen the case further,.
“We are amending the Act to incorporate provisions that would make Living Heritage like the Living Root Bridge also part of what we also consider as heritage”, Conrad said.
Energy conservation
Amendment to Building Bye Laws 2021
The cabinet has approved the amendment to the Meghalaya Building Bye Laws 2021 and these byelaws are being made applicable in the Secretariat Hills and the European ward areas of Shillong.
There are two categories- One is public and semi-public buildings, where it is decided that the maximum permissible plot coverage, which is normally at 50%, will be increased to 60%. So therefore, the maximum permissible plot coverage area for public and semi-public buildings in the Secretariat Hills and the European ward area will be increased from 50% to 60% and similarly for mixed use buildings also will be increased from 50% to 60%. This is being done to facilitate optimal use of land and to support continued growth of essential infrastructure.
RTI rules
Cabinet has also adopted Meghalaya Right to Information Rules, 2025.
