Measures have been taken to introduce a new online system for Local Government (LG) bodies to approve construction plans, Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said.
He said this Online Construction Permit Issuance Platform will be introduced to all 337 local authorities in the future.
Minister Ranatunga made these remarks during the discussion held with the heads of the Local Government bodies in the Gampaha district yesterday.
In granting approval for the construction of buildings, approval for land less than 9,000 square feet has been assigned to the Local Government bodies. If the land area is more than 9,000 square feet or if the particular building has more than five floors, it will come under the Urban Development Authority (UDA) for approval.
Officials from the Local Government authorities told the Minister that several delays are caused when construction plans of the Local Government bodies have to be approved by the UDA. They also alleged that relevant UDA officials at times do not participate in planning committees conducted by Local Government bodies.
Minister Ranatunga instructed UDA officials to take stern actions against officials who do not participate in planning committees conducted at the Local Government level. The Ministry has made it mandatory for UDA officials to participate in planning committees conducted at the Local Government level.
It was also revealed that an online application system will be introduced in collaboration with 17 institutions such as the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Coast Conservation Department (CCD), so that the applicant will not be inconvenienced.
Citizens will be benefited from this service with the ease of obtaining a construction permit shortly without going through the conventional cumbersome process. Also, the system provides the sophistication of getting SMS notifications and live status checking of the application status including prior scheduled site visits.
