The new construction laws will be a major step forward for the construction sector, as well as the economy, and businesses will not face any adverse effects because of them, housing minister Dr Mohamed Muizzu assured on Wednesday.
The parliament passed the construction bill on Wednesday night, which details new regulations such as the proper channels to get permits to construct buildings and the emergency situations in which construction can be carried out without a permit.
The government-proposed bill also stipulates ways in which the challenges faced by the construction industry can be minimized, according to the housing minister.
Dr Muizzu gave a live statement via housing ministry’s official Facebook page after the bill passed and assured that the new bill will protect the interests of everyone involved in the construction sector and pave way for further development of the field.
“I am certain this new bill will make construction easier for the people involved in this field in different scales, all throughout Maldives. The bill protects the interests of large scale construction companies, as well as individual contractors – and everyone involved in the construction field in any way,” the housing minister said.
The new bill also outlines improved construction standards that companies will have to meet, along with better safety regulations that would ensure the protection of contractors and builders, Dr Muizzu elaborated.
The minister said that there is a six-month window before the law comes into effect and that the ministry will spend that time drafting regulations in line with the new laws before gazetting them.
The government submitted a construction bill to the parliament in 2015 as well; however, after the parliament reviewed the bill, it was throw out.
According to the new bill which has 99 sections, companies that carry out construction without a proper permit will be fined an amount between MVR50,000 – MVR1 million.
The emergency situations where construction can be carried out without a permit include construction that is carried out to protect someone’s life or their rightful property.
Further, the bill also levies a fine a fine between MVR5000 – MVR1 million if a building is used in some other way than its intended purpose.
While all parliamentarians concurred that this is a much-needed bill since it regulates the construction sector, questions were raised regarding the heavy fines prescribed in the bill.
