GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority
(GMDA) have started entertaining applications for construction of
residential buildings. The bodies had stopped granting building
permissions on June 11 after the state government decided to amend the
existing building bylaws in the city for better planning.

“Permissions to construct buildings were brought to a halt as the
government started formulation of new building bylaws for Guwahati. But
this process will take some time as the proposed bill has to be passed
in the state assembly first. We received many complaints from the public
asking to restart the process of allotting building permissions so the
state government at the highest level took the decision to started
accepting fresh applications for residential buildings only,” the
newly-appointed GMC commissioner Kavitha Padmanabhan said.

She, however, clarified that applications seeking permission for
residential buildings in the hilly areas and eco-sensitive zones will
not be entertained. Padmanabhan said for the time being, permission upto
ground plus two level will be given. “The government is yet to decide
on giving building permission to high-rise buildings,” she added.

Sources in the GMC said the civic body will also start entertaining applications for commercial buildings shortly. The GMDA
is already entertaining applications for residential buildings from
August 2, but not beyond ground plus two level as per the guidelines of
the state government.

Meanwhile, members of real estate
developing agencies and consultants appealed the state government to
restart giving permission for constructing all kinds of buildings.
“Every citizen with land of his own has a right to construct buildings.
We are happy that the GMC and the GMDA have started entertaining
applications for residential buildings. Hopefully, the government
agencies will also start accepting applications for all kinds of
buildings soon,” said Guwahati-based consultant engineer, JN Khataniar.

However, he urged the state government not to grant permission to big
projects with multiple high-rise apartments in the city. “There should
be some restrictions while granting building permission in Guwahati as
drainage system here needs to be improved. Moreover, availability of
underground water and electricity load has to be kept in mind,”
Khataniar said.