Editor,
The recent order of the Honourable Meghalaya High Court capping all constructions around water bodies to be beyond 50 meters from the high water or flood level has put some of the bigwigs in the State government in a spot of bother.
It is public knowledge that the elder brother and ex-MLA of the present Deputy Chief Minister of the State owns a huge chunk of land in the Pynthorumkhrah which is a flood plain of the Wah Umkhrah. The Deputy Chief Minister holds the important Urban Affairs Department portfolio and therefore very much has a say in the affairs of building construction and granting of permission through the Chairman of the MUDA who is his brother-in-law, the Jowai MLA.
It is also rumoured that the Deputy Chief Minister has purchased the KL Complex at Demseiniong which is itself another big plot of land and therefore has a huge stake and must be keenly watching the court proceedings.
It may not be a coincidence that certain officers of the MUDA have been transferred, bringing in officers to hold and assigned to posts not due to, an incompetent MCS officer issuing an absurd order and the 78 – 80 year old Chief Engineer who is known for being close and cozy to the Minister of Urban Affairs eased out by a recent government notification barring retired government officials to hold office beyond 70 years of age, as reported in local dailies. It looks like the MUDA has become a personal fiefdom.
Besides the above, the present Chief Secretary of Meghalaya also has a plot of land somewhere in the RR Colony, Umpling where apparently there is a river passing adjacent to his plot and is also affected by the above order.
Though many may say that the High Court order is too late and too much since there are already existing houses and buildings in close proximity to the water bodies, certain relaxations and conditions need to be imposed and distance needs to be maintained from the high flood level of the water bodies.
Simply take the case of the BDW School in Pynthorumkhrah where thick compound walls have been constructed and flood waters unable to penetrate and consequences and ramifications of that are experienced by the surrounding localities, families and houses. More so will be the consequences once construction is allowed for the above persons.
Therefore, at this juncture, it becomes imperative for all the high functionaries of the State, the Minister, Chairman MUDA, Chief Secretary and any others to be relieved and distanced from their present positions and allow the domain and technical experts to bring in the required laws with justice and without fear or favour. That much they can do for the State and the environment.
Name withheld on request
