The Lands and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) said yesterday in a statement that it dealt last year with 1,114 cases of illegal construction, in which 129 of the illegal structures were demolished by the property owners of their own volition, while eight involved fines imposed on the owners.
In the statement, the DSSCU noted that the number of owners willing to demolish their illegally built structures was higher than that recorded in 2022, reflecting residents’ rising awareness of them civic duty to refrain from performing illegal construction work. The bureau said it would continue to closely monitor all suspicious activities of illegal construction, in order to ensure the building safety and create a better living environment for all residents.
The bureau further stated that it was mainly focusing on unauthorised structures that might obstruct access for firefighters and other emergency rescues, including concrete and metal rooftops, placement of fences, cages and metallic gates installed in the common areas of a building. They underlined that illegally built structures not only affect a building’s sanitary conditions, but also could constitute a barrier to evacuation in the event of fire and accidents, posing a higher risk to residents’ lives.
According to the statement, the Urban Construction Legal Regime, which came into force in 2021, has established additional responsibilities for property owners regarding building maintenance and preservation. Owners that fail to comply with the safety and hygiene regulations of their buildings face penalties such as fines and suspension of electricity and tap water supply.
More detailed statistical data on illegal constructions can be viewed on the DSSCU’s website: www.dsscu.gov.mo.
