Meghalaya Govt approves Building ByLaws 2011

The Meghalaya government today approved the amendment to the Meghalaya Building ByLaws 2011, fixing a permissible vertical height of 14 metres and 17 metres for buildings with and without basement, respectively.
State Urban Affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said the amendment was necessary after "misinterpretation" of the provisions related to the definition of ground level and basement parking and height concession for buildings were observed resulting in "violations."
She said the state government was also contemplating reviewal of the provisions related to the height of buildings for "aesthetic" and consequent management for the horizontal growth in the city.
"The amendment will also provide clear specification of parking space for residential and apartment usages and fixing of building height from ground level to basement level," Ampareen said.

"It also sought fixing of permissible floors to a maximum of four floors of 14 metres without basement and five floors of 17 metres with basement wherever technically feasible," she said.
According to the minister, the bylaws were amended from March 12, 2011 by incorporating structural safety requirements, licensing of architects and engineers, facilities for persons with disabilities and an additional floor where ground floor was used for parking besides introduction of special building categories.
Ampareen also indicated that the state government may impose further restrictions on height and usages of buildings once the "zoning regulation" as prescribed under the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning Act was approved.