SEPTEMBER 2025 - Flipbook - Page 17
IN CONVERSATION WITH :
Fair Land Permits: A Government Perspec琀椀ve
How does the government iden琀椀fy and
rectify cases where construction has
proceeded without proper permits or
approvals?
Provisions have been made under sec琀椀on
127 of the Local Government Act to
address cases of illegal constructions
or situations where the construction
has not been carried out in accordance
with approved plans. In cases of noncompliance with BLUP conditions, an
enforcement notice is served on the
developer, who is given 30 days to comply
with the BLUP provisions or to submit an
applica琀椀on for a BLUP. If the developer
fails to comply, a pulling-down no琀椀ce
may be issued and the ma琀琀er may also be
referred to the district court, which may
impose a 昀椀ne and order the removal of the
illegal structure.
For developments carried out without a
BLUP, a compliance no琀椀ce is served on
the developer, requiring them to apply
for a BLUP within 30 days. A penalty fee
of Rs 50,000 is also applicable. The case
may addi琀椀onally be referred to the district
court, which may impose a 昀椀ne and order
the removal of the illegal structure.
Ranjiv Woochit, the Minister of Local
Government, explains in simple words
how building and land use permits are
issued in our country. He describes the
steps involved in the process, how it
has improved over the years and what
the government is doing to make it
more transparent and fair. The Minister
emphasizes the importance of thorough
inspec琀椀ons and environmental checks
before permits are approved. He also
talks about efforts to prevent illegal
constructions and reduce political
in昀氀uence in decision-making. Addi琀椀onally,
he encourages communi琀椀es to par琀椀cipate
more ac琀椀vely in urban development to
help build sustainable and safe ci琀椀es.
Overall, the Minister shares how the
government aims to support balanced
growth that benefits everyone while
protec琀椀ng the environment.
Can you provide an overview of the
current process for issuing building
permits and how it has changed in recent
years?
Building and Land Use Permits (BLUP)
are issued by the Permits and Business
Monitoring Commi琀琀ee (PBMC) of each
Local Authority, under Sec琀椀on 115 of
the Local Government Act. Presently,
the PBMC is chaired by the Mayor or
Chairperson of the Local Authority and
comprises four Councilors, the Chief
Executive and heads of the Planning,
Public Infrastructure and Public Health
departments.
Prior to 2004, in urban zones, Municipal
Councils issued both Development
Permits and Building Permits, while in
rural areas, District Councils issued only
Development Permits, with Building
Permits issued by the Ministry of Public
17
Infrastructure.
In 2014, the permit system was
harmonized so that all Local Authori琀椀es
(LAs) began issuing a single Building
and Land Use Permit — combining both
Development Permits and Building
Permits.
What measures are being taken to
ensure that building permits are granted
only a昀琀er proper site inspec琀椀ons and
environmental assessments?
Following an application for a
BLUP, Planning Inspectors of Local
Authorities (LAs), after ensuring that
the applica琀椀on has been correctly made
and all documents submi琀琀ed as per the
guidelines issued by the Ministry of Local
Government, inspect the site and ensure
that the applica琀椀on is in line with the
Policy Planning Guidelines (PPG) issued
by the Ministry of Housing and Land
Use Planning. The PPGs are designed
to regulate land use and development
and ensure sustainable and well-planned
growth. The recommendations of the
Planning department are thereafter
sent to the PBMC for considera琀椀on and
approval.
There have been reports of permits being
issued without proper due diligence,
leading to concerns about environmental
degradation. How is the ministry
addressing these issues?
The decision of the PBMC may be
challenged by an aggrieved party
before the Environment and Land Use
Appeal Tribunal. In addi琀椀on, as Minister
responsible for Local Government, I
have a statutory “droit de regard” on the
recommenda琀椀ons of the PBMC
What steps are in place to prevent
political influence from affecting the
issuance of building permits?
Normally, the PBMC approves BLUPs
upon a posi琀椀ve recommenda琀椀on from
the Planning Department, indica琀椀ng that
all planning norms have been observed
and that the development is socially
acceptable. The PBMC makes its decisions
in a fair and impar琀椀al manner. Any undue
in昀氀uence in the decision-making process
is considered an offence under the
Financial Crime Commission Act.
Can you comment on recent ini琀椀a琀椀ves or
reforms aimed at improving transparency
and accountability in the building permit
process?
For all BLUP applications, public
notification is mandatory through the
display of a plate and no琀椀ces published
in two daily newspapers. Addi琀椀onally,
hearings are conducted in cases where
there are complaints challenging the
development. Both par琀椀es are no琀椀昀椀ed of
the PBMC’s decision and the aggrieved
party has the right to appeal before
the Environment and Land Use Appeal
Tribunal.
How does the ministry balance the need
for development with environmental
preservation and sustainable urban
planning?
The Policy Planning Guidelines ensure
that all developments comply with the
standards issued by the Ministry of
Local Government and other relevant
authori琀椀es, which are regularly consulted.
My Ministry strives to achieve a balance
by integra琀椀ng sustainable development
principles into urban planning and
implemen琀椀ng policies that promote both
economic growth and environmental
protec琀椀on. This includes promo琀椀ng green
building standards, such as the use of
solar energy, enhancing energy e昀케ciency
through eco-friendly and energy-saving
ligh琀椀ng systems and preserving natural
habitats such as wetlands and forests. For
larger-scale developments, a designated
percentage of the land is reserved as
green space.
What role does public participation
or community consulta琀椀on play in the
permit approval process?
Currently, there is an absence of public
par琀椀cipa琀椀on and community consulta琀椀on,
especially for large-scale projects.
Following the upcoming reform of the
Local Government Sector, it is planned to
introduce public consulta琀椀ons with the
local community prior to gran琀椀ng approval
for developments.
Are there any plans to implement stricter
penal琀椀es or enforcement mechanisms
for illegal construc琀椀ons or permits issued
irregularly?
Currently, a maximum 昀椀ne of Rs50,000
is imposed under the Local Government
Act (LGA) for illegal construc琀椀ons and
those carried out without permits. This
昀椀ne is applied regardless of the scale
of the development and is considered
discriminatory against small developers
compared to large-scale projects. This
issue will be addressed shortly as part
of the upcoming reform program for the
local government sector.
How does the government plan to prevent
future abuses and ensure that the permit
process aligns with environmental and
urban development policies?
Penalties and fines should be
proportionate to the scale of the
development. The Planning Policy
Guidelines (PPG), established under the
Planning and Development Act 2004,
need to be reviewed regularly to ensure
that developments occur in a sustainable
manner.
What message would you like to send
to residents concerned about urban
development and environmental
protec琀椀on?
Development is inevitable but it must
be planned and should not come at the
expense of our environment. As we grow,
we must strive to build a sustainable
country and become more resilient.
Achieving this requires a collec琀椀ve e昀昀ort
from all of us. We need to change our
mindset and behaviors.
For example, you can reduce green waste
by compos琀椀ng, use energy-e昀케cient LED
bulbs, take advantage of the CEB scheme
to harness solar energy, plant more trees
and ac琀椀vely engage with your municipal
or village council by par琀椀cipa琀椀ng in public
consulta琀椀ons and voicing your concerns
about urban and rural development plans.
Suppor琀椀ng the crea琀椀on and maintenance
of parks, gardens and other green spaces
within your community is also vital, as
these areas are essen琀椀al for our wellbeing and biodiversity.
Lastly, educate yourself about
environmental preserva琀椀on, share your
knowledge with friends, family and
neighbors, and encourage them to join
you in making a posi琀椀ve di昀昀erence.
RUQAYAH B. KHAYRATTEE
