New building norms for panchayats mooted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The regulations in constructing residential and commercial buildings, already in force in Corporation and municipal limits, are proposed to be extended to panchayats with an urban nature.

Local Administration Department sources told The Hindu that the draft Kerala Panchayat Building Rules prepared by the Town and Country Planning Department is understood to have mooted the extension of the floor area ratio (FAR), setback and parking norms to the panchayats which have registered an impressive growth surpassing even that of the Corporations and municipalities.

As per the draft proposals, the FAR in the urbanised panchayats is likely to be 2:75. This will vary in the case of semi-urban and rural panchayats.

Panchayats identified

As many as 150 panchayats such as Kazhakuttam in the capital, Maradu and Thrikkakara in Kochi, Kottarakara, Pandalam, Munnar panchayat and its adjoining areas which witnessed substantial growth had been identified as urbanised civic bodies. But the development of infrastructure facilities is far from satisfactory. The new norms in force in urban areas will be applicable to these 150 and other urbanised panchayats