(file Photo)

Shillong, Feb 06: Minister for Urban Affairs and Congress nominee, Ronnie V Lyngdoh on Tuesday slammed the People’s Democratic Forum (PDF)–led Executive Committee in the KHADC, for its alleged failure to notify urban centres outside Municipal areas to be covered by town committees for the implementation of building bye-laws.

“Two months have already passed yet the KHADC under the leadership of PDF leader, P.N. Syiem has not done its job in this regard. The people will come to know that it is the PDF that has done nothing on this issue,” Lyngdoh told reporters after filing his nominations from Mylliem constituency here on Tuesday.

Lyngdoh said that the state government and the KHADC along with members of the Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong ka Bri Hynñiewtrep had on December 14, 2017 agreed that the provisions of the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act 1973, would be invoked for the appointment of local authorities, while the KHADC has to notify urban centres outside municipal areas as areas covered by town committees.

These local authorities will be appointed to enforce the building bye-laws outside Municipal areas,​ and the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) shall enforce the bye-laws only in areas within municipalities.

On MUDA’s alleged encroachment, Lyngdoh said that the building bye-laws is not the state government doings but it was imposed following orders passed by the Meghalaya High Court in 2015.

He however said that when he became the Urban Affairs Minister, he had taken this matter very seriously.

“After going through the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act, 1973 thoroughly, it was found out that there is a provision within this Act that states that the state government may appoint any regional or local authority to implement the building bye laws,” he said.

Meanwhile exuding confidence that the Congress will come back to power, Lyngdoh lambasted the Congress deserters and termed them as “opportunists” who have selfish motives for their own gains.

Lyngdoh was also confident of retaining his Mylliem seat because he has not misused even a single paisa from the MLA scheme.

“I have brought many developments in the constituency right from road connectivity to villages, water supply, and play grounds for the youths, electricity, beside others,” he said.

He also said that all these years, the Mylliem Block have to look after 8 Assembly constituencies but it was his initiative who apprised the Chief Minister to re-orgnaise the Mylliem Block which led to the creation of the Mawlai C&RD Block and Mawpat C&RD Block.

“I was able to deliver the water supply scheme amounting to Rs 33 crore to the people, and now I will be giving the people a sanction of more than Rs 50 crore within these five years for road developments in the area,” he said.