NAY PYI TAW — Draft legislation that would enable work to be halted on high-rise buildings being erected without permits was accepted for debate by parliament last week.
The urgent bill, that applies to buildings eight-stories or higher, was submitted on January 7 by Daw May Win Myint (National League for Democracy, Myangone Township, Yangon). It was accepted for debate by 246 votes to 20, with 38 abstentions.
Daw May Win Myint said government ministries as well as private companies were erecting buildings of eight-stories or higher without following the necessary procedures or having the correct permits.
She cited two 12-storey buildings in Yangon as examples. One was being erected by the Ministry of Health at Yangon General Hospital and the other was being built by a private company on University Avenue.
Daw May Win Myint said construction projects by government departments need the prior approval of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Department before being referred to the parliament for consideration.
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“The Ministry of Health did not send the plan to any ministry and it [the 12-storey building] does not have the approval of the parliament,” she said.
The building was finished up to the fourth storey, she told MPs.
Daw May Win Myint said work was continuing on the 12-storey building on University Avenue despite a letter from Yangon City Development Committee ordering a halt to the project and objections from nearby monasteries.
