Minister of Provincial Council and Local Government, Faiszer Mustapha says that he has instructed relevant authorities to impose a fine on individuals who have erected buildings with multiple floors despite obtaining approval for plans with a fewer number of floors.
“Some people get plans approved for the construction of a three-storey building but they build 5 or 6 floors. Local government institutions have had to provide services for those 5-6 floors.”
“I have issued instruction to impose a fine on those locations, charge for services and separate follow up with legal proceedings for unauthorized contraction,” he told reporters in Colombo.
However, the minister emphasized that imposing a fine and charging for services does not make such actions legal.
Musthapha also said that he has accepted a challenge to be carried out by the local government bodies to reduce the spread of dengue by 25% compared to the previous month.
He said that Colombo and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia municipality areas have been mainly targeted.
The minister further said that he has instructed officials to temporarily suspend approval of plans for construction sites with dengue mosquito breeding areas.
