Kerala To Amend Rules To Regularise Illegal Buildings

The Kerala government on November 29 decided to amend the state Panchayat Raj Act and Municipalities Act with an aim to regularise unauthorised buildings, constructed on or before July 31, 2017. A Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, took the decision to recommend to Governor P Sathasivam to issue separate ordinances to amend the existing Acts, an official release said.

Unauthorised constructions would be regularised without compromising on the safety and strength of the structure and by levying a compound fee, the release said.

The revival and addition made to the existing structure would also be brought under the ambit of the regularisation procedure.

A panel, comprising district town planner, deputy director and secretary of the respective civic body, would be in charge of taking decision on regularising the structures at the panchayat level. With regard to towns, the charge is entrusted with a committee, comprising district town planner, regional joint director (urban affairs) and secretary of the respective civic body.

The state Cabinet also gave permission to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) to set up an eight mega- watt windmill project at Agali panchayat in the tribal hamlet of Attappady in the Palakkad district. Before implementing the programme, the NHPC has to obtain the necessary permission from tribals in the area.

The tariff of the power, produced through the proposed project, is to be decided after consulting with the Kerala State Electricity Board. Five per cent of the revenue from the windmill project has to be given to the tribals.

With inputs from Housing News