The Yangon City Development Committee’s (YCDC) building department hit back at claims that it delays issuing permits and does so improperly, during an October 29 press conference.
U Maung Maung Zaw, the department’s head, said nearly 50 percent more permits have been issued in 2013 than in 2012.
‘’In the 2012-13 year we issued 2024 low-rise permits and 294 for high-rises,” he said. “For 2013-14, we have already released 2947 low-rise permits and 558 permits for high-rises, so it’s quite clear that we are releasing more permits.”
Low-rise buildings are defined as those lower than 3.5-storeys high.
“Today, we are giving a clear message about issuing building permits,” he said. “There are 33 townships within Yangon city and our department is responsible for seeing that construction work is done correctly, regardless whether it’s low- or high-rise.”
“I’d like to say that YCDC does not delay in giving permits but many developers submit incomplete proposals and blame us when we don’t issue a permit to build,” he said.
Developers have publicly voiced their displeasure with the YCDC, claiming that their failure to speedily issue permits to builders has resulted in some projects on Yangon’s outskirts beginning without the necessary documentation.
U Maung Maung Zaw said the most common problem with permits is the lack of clarity over land ownership.
“Owners who can prove they own the land and lodge applications that have all the correct information will receive a construction permit from YCDC without hesitation,” he said.
Low-rise permits are issued in about 45 days, with high-rise permits taking two to three months, he said.
He added that the department has mounted a public awareness campaign concerning building permits to educate the city’s residents and developers, with four townships already finished.
“So far we have conducted our campaign in Thingangyun, Hlaing, Mayangone and South Okkalapa townships to convey a clear message and from our department,” he said.
U Maung Maung Zaw said the permits are also announced on YCDC’s website and once a builder has received notification it can begin building immediately.
Source: Myanmar Times
