THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cabinet has decided to issue municipal and panchayat raj rules to regularize illegal buildings constructed before 2019 in the state. The rule is brought to avoid interference of the governor who is not in good terms with the government. If a bill or ordinance is introduced for amendment of the Kerala Municipal Act and the Panchayat Raj Act, it needs the approval of the Governor. The Governor did not sign the previous four bills.

Illegal buildings whose construction was started or completed on or before November 7, 2019 can be regularized after paying the fine. It has been decided to amend Section 407(1) of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994 and Section 235 AB (1) of the Kerala Panchayati Raj Act. Based on this, Kerala Municipality (Regularization of Unauthorized Constructions) Act and Kerala Panchayat raj (Regularization of Unauthorized Constructions) Act will be issued to regularize illegal constructions, said Minister MB Rajesh.

With the implementation of the rule, illegal buildings constructed before November 7, 2019 can be regularized by paying fine. The government intervened when many buildings that were violating the rules could not be regularized due to various reasons. The measure will help to solve the problems of building owners and increase the income of local bodies.