THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Cabinet Meeting on Wednesday decided to recommend to the Governor to issue an ordinance to amend the Panchayat-Municipal rules to expedite the issuance of building permits.

The law is being amended so that the construction of a building can commence based on the certificate of the land/building owner and the empanelled licensee authorised to prepare and submit the plan (Architect, engineer, building designer, supervisor or town planner are the empanelled licensees). Upon receipt of the plan, the Secretary of the local body (Local Self Government) must issue a certificate within five working days. The draft bill includes provisions that would consider this document as a building permit with permission to start construction of the building.

The proposed law provides for fines and revocation of the license of the licensee if the information in the self-certification provided by the landowner or licensee is found to be incorrect at a later stage. The fines will be imposed at the rate of Rs 2 lakhs for buildings with an area of up to 100 sq m, Rs 4 lakhs up to 200 sq m and Rs 6 lakhs for up to 300 sq m.

The building owner and the empanelled licensee must jointly certify that the building plan and site plan comply with existing laws, regulations and other statutory provisions.

The proposed amendment will apply to houses less than 7 m in height, up to 2 storeys high and less than 300 sq m in area. It will also be applicable to hostels, orphanages, dormitories, old age homes, seminaries and religious buildings with a height of fewer than 7 m and a floor area of less than 200 sq m.

Construction of commercial buildings less than 7 m in height, up to 2 storeys and less than 100 sq. m in area, and also the construction of non-hazardous industrial buildings can be started on the basis of self-certification.

The Cabinet also decided to amend the Panchayat/Town building rules requiring the Local Government Secretary to take a decision within 15 days after receiving the application for the construction of the building as against the present 30 days.