The State government has said that model guidelines for maintaining the sanctity of the water bodies are being drafted together with guidelines pertaining to license or permission being granted to construct buildings near such water bodies.
The State government informed this during the hearing of a PIL in the division bench of the Meghalaya High Court today.
The government also informed the court that aquatic experts have also been inducted into the expert committee for preservation of water bodies.
During the hearing, the State government assured the High Court that no construction will be allowed to come up nor will construction work be continued or commenced near any of the water bodies, particularly the Umiam Lake, before the matter is next taken up and the guidelines on both maintenance of water bodies and permission to make construction near such water bodies are finalised. The next hearing on the matter will be held on May 24.