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Hisham Al-Jundi
Doha
The Central Municipal Council (CMC) has recommended tightening control over illegally-partitioned villas and apartments and sought stricter action against the violators.
At the 32nd session on Tuesday, the CMC discussed further restrictions on villa partitioning and urged the municipalities to take stringent action.
CMC President Mohammed bin Homoud Al Shafi said villa partitioning must be stopped and the municipalities should conduct more inspections to curb this practice.
Several CMC members sought more efforts from the Public Prosecution (PP) in issuing permission for inspection of suspected villas.
Officials at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) said inspectors, who have powers to seize, can only enter buildings with permission from the property owner or the PP.
Meanwhile, the CMC has also recommended allowing residential buildings with more floor in some areas to create more accommodations for low-income families.
The CMC members also raised the issue of citizens' complaints about congestions in their neighbourhoods and overload on electric supply.
CMC member Nasser al Muhannadi said some citizens find their neighbourhoods overcrowded with more noise and plenty of cars on pavements.
CMC member Khalid al Hitmi stressed the need for a strict legislation to deal with this problem.
As per the provisions of the amended law Number 8 of 2014, the municipality's written permission is a must for maintenance work, repair, renovation, partitioning, and expansion, demolition, digging or levelling of excavated areas in a housing unit. Contractors and engineers, including consultancies, found flouting the rule will attract a fine between QR10,000 and QR100,000.
The amended law stipulates a fine of QR250 to QR500 per square metre of illegally partitioned area in a piece of property. The alterations need to be removed after paying the fine. If a wall, permanent or makeshift, has been erected to create an illegal partition, the penalty per square metre will be between QR200 and QR400.
Contractors and others must carry out construction of a house or building after making sure that plans and designs are approved by the municipality.
Some CMC members have called for finding alternatives for low-income tenants of partitioned villas before implementing the law. CMC member Khalid al Ghali said any action against violations should not cause harm to the tenants of these villas and convenient solutions must be provided to them.
