Draft law on illegal buildings to be discussed in parliament

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Sat, 26 Jan 2019 - 02:27 GMT

BY

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 - 02:27 GMT

A taxi moves past blocks of houses that were built illegally and destroyed by the government, behind the Supreme Constitutional Court in Maadi, south of Cairo, April 25, 2014. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

A taxi moves past blocks of houses that were built illegally and destroyed by the government, behind the Supreme Constitutional Court in Maadi, south of Cairo, April 25, 2014. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

CAIRO - 26 January 2019: The House of Representatives will discuss in its general assembly on Sunday the law drafted by the government on reconciliation with individuals who committed illegal construction.

In December 2017, the government had finished drafting the law before it was submitted to the parliament. Draft laws are always reviewed by the Legislative Committee first to ensure there will not be conflict of laws before they are passed to the specialized committee.

In November 2018, the Housing Committee approved the draft after Article 5 on the amount to be paid by violators was amended.

The article currently states, “Each governor forms a committee having two administrative officials, two elevators accredited by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), and a representative of the General Authority of Government Services to be in charge of dividing the governorate into zones according to facilities availability, and planning. The committee sets the price of square meter to be paid by violators for reconciliation. The square meter prices set by the committee must not be more than four times the average prices indicated in the ministerial decree no. 214/2017 or less than 30 percent of their value.”

As such, the price of square meter will not exceed LE800 in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, and the investment zone in 6th of October City. The value of the square meter in towns, and villages located in other governorates is respectively LE500, and LE200.

Citizens have to file for reconciliation at the executive body in charge within six months after the issuance of the executive rules, and pay in cash a checking fee worth LE5,000 maximum. The fee categories will be defined by the executive rules which must be issued by the Housing Ministry within three months of passing the law.

The decision on a reconciliation request must be given within four months. The amount of money required for reconciliation can be paid in installments. After the committee’s approval, the governor or the chairman of the authority in charge must endorse the reconciliation decision.

The executive body in charge of reconciliations must inform entities providing facilities within 15 days of the approval endorsement. The violator whose reconciliation request was rejected can appeal within 30 days, and receive a decision by the committee within six months.

The revenues of the reconciliation payments will go to the general treasury, however, other entities will receive some portions:

30 percent will go to infrastructure projects in the sectors of drinking water and sewage.

15 percent will go to the Social Housing Fund, and development projects.

10 percent will go to executive bodies in charge of handling construction violations, and squatters.

Seven percent will be used to create parking space.

Three percent will go to reconciliation committees members in different governorates, and the employees in the executive bodies in charge of handling the process.

Reconciliation does not apply to the cases below:

Unsafe buildings.

Constructions over state-owned lands.

Constructions over lands containing artifacts.

Constructions in remote areas not designated for urban planning.

Buildings exceeding the height designated by law.

Buildings exceeding the height approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, and compromising the state defense requirements.

Violations pertinent to car park spaces.

Constructions influencing buildings with unique designs.

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