NBRO approval a must for new constructions islandwide: Proposal before cabinet soon

A proposal that would make it compulsory to obtain approval from the National Building Research (NBRO) for any kind of construction islandwide would be submitted to the cabinet shortly, an official said.

Currently approval is required only in 10 districts that are considered disaster-prone.

An official of the Disaster Management Ministry said they were holding discussions on how to implement the service islandwide.

Meanwhile a Bill is to be submitted to convert the NBRO from its present semi government status to a full fledged government body with powers to make recommendations about areas suitable for habitation, NBRO Director General Asiri Karunawardena said.

Dr. Karunawardena said the Disaster Management Ministry considered the move after the recent floods that left a trail of devastation.

He said damage to property following various natural disasters could have been minimised if local councils had considered recommendations by the NBRO prior to giving approval for the construction of houses.Dr. Karunawardena said cur- rently 10 districts which face landslide threats and tsunami risk- areas have to obtain recommendations from the NBRO prior to building. The districts are Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ratnapura and Kegalle .

He said about 100,000 houses are built every year but many without approval from the NBRO and are prone to damage mainly due to lack of safety precautions.

He said this is an added cost to the Government as it has to pay compensation to the affected people.