The Delta State Government has warned builders and construction firms in the State that development of any property without approved development plans, in line with the position of the law are considered as illegal development and will not be accepted.
The Delta State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Renewal, Engr. Michael Anoka made this known during an on the spot assessment of a recently collapsed two-story building under construction near the Airport Police station, Asaba International Airport, Okpanam in company of the GM, Urban Regional Planning Board, TPL Peter Amaduobogha, Director, Engineer Services and other management team of the Ministry.
He expressed dismay over developers who do not comply with extant rules and regulations guiding development in the State :If It has not passed through extant regulatory processes which the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Renewal is mandated by law to carryout culminating in the issuance of approved development plans it is illegal”.
Engr. Anoka said it was gathered that the building under construction has no approved building plan and all necessary stop work notices were issued to the developer and site sealed 3 years ago, but they clandestinely resumed work recently and it was also discovered that sub-standard building materials were used in the construction.
Commissioner Anoka revealed that going forward, his Ministry has come up with the introduction of digitalized system that will be used for all policy plans/large developments, that this will enable the Ministry to keep track of each development plan approved to specific location and Area Planning officers/Zonal Planning officers (APO/ZPO) responsible, thereby eliminating forgery, illegal development, and to also monitoring, evaluate and avert disasters, other environmental mishap and hazards in built up environment in the State.
