Long delays in Town Planning and Land Registry

The serious and recurring issues concerning the Department of Urban Planning and Housing and the Department of Land Registry and recorded in the recommendations of the Commissioner of Administration, were examined on Wednesday by the Parliamentary Committee on Institutions.

On behalf of the Office of the Commissioner of Administration, Katerina Kallitsioni stated that despite the decrease in complaints submitted regarding the specific services of the Ministry of the Interior, there are serious issues that are repeated.

In relation to the Land Registry, he mainly referred to delays regarding the assessment and expropriation of parcels, but also to serious delays in other applications. In particular, he mentioned that an application for border adjustment submitted in 2003 was finally processed in 2023, while illegal intervention on state land in Paralimni continues for 39 years.

With regard to Urban Planning, he noted the delay observed in the response to issues raised by the Commissioner of Administration, but also the non-resolution of the issue of the installation of elevators in government settlements.

Admission for not timely intervention

The Director of the Department of Urban Planning and Housing Kyriakos Kountouros acknowledged that in several cases there was no timely intervention of the service to the Commissioner's remarks and for this purpose an officer will be appointed to monitor all complaints and indicate when there is a delay.

Regarding licensing, he said that it is delayed due to understaffing and the need to consult with other departments. Especially in the cases of hierarchical appeals, he said that various agencies are responsible, however he noted that 90% of hierarchical appeals are rejected and the remaining 10% call the urban planning authority to reconsider.

Solutions for elevators through KtiZO

Regarding the elevators in the apartment buildings, he said that the matter is resolved through the KtiZO program, where the installation of elevators is subsidized, since the Department is not easy to intervene since the securitization of apartment buildings has taken place and there must be the consent of the tenants. Many times, he said, installation is not possible either because everyone agrees, or because there are illegalities in the wells, or because it is technically infeasible.

He also referred to problems of coordination that exist between the different urban planning authorities, however he said that despite the problems that existed from the reform of local government in the initial stages, benefits are expected to be seen in the future due to the limitation of the number of urban planning authorities.

He also mentioned that from July 1, the mandatory electronic submission for all applications in the "Ippodamos" system was introduced, with problems that are gradually being resolved.

Legislation drastically changes expropriations

On behalf of the Land Registry, Aspasia Lambrou referred to delays that exist due to past problems and the complexity of cases, even though, as she noted, complaints from the Office of the Administrative Commissioner have decreased.

He said that they try to respond to complaints and suggestions in a timely manner and are controlled for this with an ISO quality system.

Regarding the accumulated cases, he said that a specific study is underway regarding the process of reducing them.

In relation to expropriations, he referred to specific legislation that has been tabled in Parliament and which drastically changes the process of late payments or assessments, so that the process can be completed more quickly, immediately and easily.

Complaint about a chaotic situation in EOA

In her position within the Committee, AKEL Member of Parliament Irini Charalambidou referred to the huge volume of applications pending at the level of urban planning permission and stated that a chaotic situation prevails in the District Self-Governing Organizations (EOA), while she was complained that in the Nicosia EOA there is only one person to signs the applications. He also complained that there has been a specific problem with a billboard on carpeted land for years that has not yet been resolved.

In the focus are signs on carpet

In his statements after the end of the Committee, the Member of Parliament of DIKO Pavlos Mylonas said that he addressed a question to the Assistant District about the signs on carpeted land and was particularly troubled by the answer, since as he said there are thousands of advertising signs, warehouses and buildings that have been built on carpeted land, without the necessary control and payment of consideration.

He added that they will ask for further explanations since he considers that this land together with a church could be a solution for housing young and poor families, perhaps with a low rent, instead of being given to big businessmen.

He also noted that in addition to being unsightly, billboards also deprive the media of revenue.

Source: stockwatch.com.cy

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