Cantonment residents to come under building bye-laws after 37 years: Sanbor Shullai

SHILLONG, JUL 13: After a wait of 37 years, residents of Shillong Cantonment are set to come under formal building bye-laws, Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai said on Monday.

In a statement, Shullai expressed relief over the development and blamed the delay on a 1989 notification by the then Congress government.

“The residents of Shillong Cantonment are most likely to come under the purview of building bye laws after a long wait of 37 years. In the year 1989 the Congress regime had notified the F.S.I floor space index as 0.5 and since then the residents have been suffering,” Shullai said.

He credited the progress to sustained efforts by the Shillong Cantonment Board and state officials.
“I thank the President of Shillong Cantonment Board Shri Rajesh Verma, former CEO of the board Shri Ayush Maurya, Nominated Ward member Shri Bipen Pradhan, Engineer from Cantonment Board and MUDA for their continuous effort in clearing bye laws,” he stated.

Shullai, who attended board meetings as an invitee member, said detailed deliberations were held to remove bottlenecks.

“As an invitee member of the board I attended several meetings in the cantonment board. Sometimes the discussions lasted for more than eight hours to clear every minute details in order to ensure there was no hindrance from the Government side,” he said.

He also acknowledged recent follow-ups in New Delhi by current officials.

“I express gratitude to the present CEO Mr Souvik and Senior Engineer of Cantonment Board Shri Sujit Das for their perusal in New Delhi of late to finalize the draft building bye laws. I made multiple visits to the national capital along with BJP leaders to highlight to the Union Minister the difficulties faced by the residents,” Shullai added.

According to Shullai, the draft building bye-laws were finally published in a Gazette notification dated July 3, 2026 by the Ministry of Defence. The notification invites objections or suggestions within 30 days.

To facilitate public input, the Minister said a meeting with lease holders will be convened.

“I shall organise a meeting with the lease holders association so that suggestions can be forwarded to the ministry to be held before 3rd August. After the suggestions made by the residents, it shall be incorporated in the draft building bye laws and shall duly be notified by the Ministry of Defence,” he said.

Shullai added that once implemented, the bye-laws would improve living conditions in the area.
“The building bye laws once implemented will uplift the livelihood of the area with better facilities as the residents are facing difficulties due to non implementation of the building bye laws,” he said.

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