PCs to amend Town and Country Planning Bill

13 February 2012 05:15 pm

Several Provincial Councils are to amend the Town and Country Planning Ordinance Amendment Bill making provisions for the Central Government to obtain the consent of the minister concerned with the local government when acquiring land under this legislation.
 
The legislation gives the central government to take over lands within municipal and urban areas for economic, social, historical, environmental and religious purposes .

Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the Western Provincial Council approved the Bill with the over mentioned amendment. Accordingly, section six of the Bill was amended making the Central Government bound to obtain the provincial local government minister’s consent when taking over land.
 
Several provincial councils including the Central, North Central and Southern Provincial Councils have decided to introduce this amendment when approving the Bill.
 
The Western Provincial Council approved the Bill by a majority of 23 votes recently with 43 members voting for it and 23 against. (Yohan Perera)