Meghalaya House construction begin in Kolkata

Shillong, Jun 26 (UNI) The ruling Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government today said the construction work for a new Meghalaya House at 9 and 10 Russel Street in Kolkata had finally begun.

State Minister in-charge General Administration Department (GAD) Prestone Tynsong informed the Assembly that the Meghalaya government received the building permit from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on June 22 last and said the process of construction of the Meghalaya House had started.

As per agreement, the building constructed by Asian Housing Construction Pvt. Ltd. (AHCL), will be completed in 30 months, from the date of obtaining permission, informed the Minister saying the KMC charged Rs 1, 52, 86,390 for issuing the building permit.

Replying to a zero hour notice tabled by Independent MLA Pynshai Manik Syiem, the GAD Minister said the Meghalaya government had requested the KMC to consider concession/deduction/waiver of the fees in the interest of public service but the Corporation did not agree to any concession.

Further, Mr Tynsong clarified that there was no irregularity in the process of acquiring building permission from the KMC.

He said, " Though the fee charged by KMC is on the higher side but as these are as per the Building Rule 1990 under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, we have no choice but to pay the fees. " The West Bengal government had acquired the land at 9-10 Russel Street for the Government of Meghalaya from the Royal Calcutta Turf Club, Kolkata in 1976 and later signed a fresh agreement with the AHCL for construction of a residential-cum-commercial complex on May 20 last year.

UNI RRK SJC KLC1749