Manipur govt allows higher buildings in Imphal

The Manipur government has allowed the construction of buildings till seven storeys in the Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) limits.

Earlier, buildings in the municipal area had to be restricted only till three storeys.

Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development Department Minister Th Shyamkumar said on Sunday that the decision, taken after due consultation with experts and architects, was necessitated to relieve pressure on the agricultural lands lying in the outskirts of the town.

"Buildings up to seven storeys can now be built in the IMC limits but only after obtaining of permits," he said.

IMC covers an area of around 34.48 sq km in Imphal East and West districts.

Shyamkumar said the earlier limit on the number of storeys has led to more horizontal expansion rather than vertical growth, creating more pressure on land.

The minister urged the builders to follow all the safety procedures and laws during the constructions as Manipur lies in a seismic zone.

The state has recorded at least 32 earthquakes in the last one year.

An earthquake of 6.7 magnitude had struck Manipur in 2016, killing six persons and damaging numerous buildings.

Officials said the up to seven-storeyed buildings will have to be quake-resistant, by use of reinforced concrete, while designs of already-constructed ones will have to be improved to comply with the established norms concerning construction in a seismic zone.

The design of the buildings will have to be approved by registered structural engineers, they said.

Despite the earlier limit on the construction of buildings only up to three storeys, rampant flouting of the norms was visible across the town.