Big relief for homeless people; CM instructs officials to allow houses in databank land

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The chief minister instructed local self-governing bodies to permit the construction of houses for homeless people in databanks or wetland areas. Officers who fail to abide by the rules will face strict action.

The intervention of the Chief Minister is after minding the complaints about officials creating obstacles. Tens of thousands of applicants will be relieved by the CM’s decision.

This exemption has been in effect since 2008 when the Data Bank came into existence, but people were kept away from the benefits. A concession is allowed for 10 cents in gram panchayat and 5 cents in the city. According to the 2018 amendment to the Wetland Act, if the area of ​​the land not included in the data bank is within 10 cents, no land classification is required for constructing a house with an area of ​​120 sq.m.

Registration of the land as 'land' in the BTR (Basic Land Tax Register) is not a hindrance to granting house-building permits in such applications. Application for this should be made in Form I. Construction of commercial buildings up to 40 sq m on land up to 5 cents does not require conversion. It is enough to submit a certificate that the proposed land is not included in the data bank along with the building application before the concerned local body secretary.

Agriculture, local and revenue officials are not ready to make people aware of these provisions. Because of this, most people are being stripped of those benefits. The Chief Minister termed this as serious negligence on the part of the officials.