The government gave special sanction to the corporation secretary to issue building numbers to shops that were rebuilt/newly-constructed after being fully and partially demolished as part of Karamana-Pravachambalam road widening works.
As per the order– 58 buildings located on plot measuring below 3 cents–will be authorized and allotted building numbers. The order from LSG department has come as a relief to the long-pending demand of the merchant community.
Following a meeting convened by LSG minister AC Moideen in 2019, the corporation was asked to submit a list of buildings that were constructed on leftover land after acquisition for road widening. The civic body reported that 105 buildings were built and regularisation was completed for only eight and 97 more were to be regularized and council had decided to regularise them, the corporation secretary had communicated to the government.
The government issued an order directing the secretary to give building numbers to 58 buildings lying on plots measuring below 3 cents. “This will be a major boost for road widening works. With numbers being allotted, shopkeepers can get authorized licence and complete procedures like GST registration. They can also avail loans for running business. The government decision is a welcome move. We have been requesting it to take a considerate step on this issue,” said district general secretary, Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti S S Manoj.
Corporation had earlier begun collection of data from owners whose property was below 3 cents to identify whether variation in setback happened due to widening of road. The buildings – which include commercial and residential – were built by residents whose land had been acquired for road widening as part of Karamana-Kaliyikkavila highway widening project.
Following road widening, some of the constructions were altered and others built new constructions and in the process norms were violated. Kerala municipality building rules (KMBR) 1999 chapter 11 includes provisions for allowing relaxations to construction in plots, part of which were surrendered free of cost for road development. However, these provisions could not be applied in this case as land was acquired for road development by paying compensation fixed by district level purchase committee.
In 2016, the civic body had served notices to over 100 new constructions along Karamana-Pravachambalam stretch following a report filed by town planning (vigilance) deeming the constructions as illegal. The notices were served as per the decision taken at a meeting convened by the then LSG secretary. The town planning department had submitted a report to the urban affairs ministry regarding constructions that had violated KMBR along Karamana-Pappanamcode road.
The 3m distance from the road, which is mandatory for every construction was not maintained by commercial and domestic properties from Karamana. Many shopkeepers and house owners found themselves in a fix following the move as authorized documents could not be availed since they owned ‘unauthorised’ shops/houses.
