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| Sunday, 3 April 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Post tsunami solution to construction and development by Elmo Leonard The implementation of the 1999 Presidential Commission Report on Local Government Reforms, would provide a solution to the prevailing divide, concerning future planning and reconstruction, following the mass destruction caused by the December 26 tsunami, Prof Willie Mendis said. Focusing on the tourism sector, in shambles along some coastal areas, he said that such measures would be the only way to secure the promotion and growth of development and its reconstruction. Applying the discipline of town planning, the land wiped by the tsunami is akin to virgin territory, being in conflict with land which was not affected in its hinterland said Prof Mendis who is senior Professor in town and country planning, University of Moratuwa. Striking a balance would mean consulting with the local people. Such consultation could be done with the people's elected representatives in Parliament and in local government bodies. The decisions taken when allotting land should ensure the convenience and security of the people. The legal framework must be adhered to, called the Town and Planning Country Law. But, there is another law called the Urban Development Authority Law, Prof Mendis said. The construction of every building, big or small needs the approval of the local authority. Such regulation will ensure the security of the entire community and facilitate economic development. A large number of unauthorised structures of enterprises had been built before the tsunami, unknowing what the impact would be in the event of a natural disaster. Thus, anyone who contravenes the law would endanger the entire settlement and must be penalised by demolition. First, a massive public campaign would be necessary to educate the people in the commercial and other sectors. In such an endeavour the Department of Coast Conservation must provide the specialist expertise for the developers. This could be done in the local areas with the assistance of the local authorities. Such a recommendation has been provided in the 1999 Presidential Commission Report on Local Government Reforms, Prof Mendis said. |
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