By JASON SOM KAUT
THE lack of enforcement of building laws is allowing many illegal buildings to spring up in Lae.
The provincial building authorities are now seriously considering taking action to ensure building laws and regulations are complied with to ensure safety.
The city’s authority building manager Bonny Tangara earlier this year said that lack of funds and resources, including vehicles, were hindering building inspectors from carrying out site checks of constructions in Lae city.
A building, formerly owned by Mainland Holdings and sold to a Highlands businessman, is the focus of attention of the building board.
Located opposite the provincial headquarters, the top floor is being extended to house guest rooms.
A leading industry source said the extension was illegal as it was not approved by the building board and was not compliant with building laws and regulations.
Numerous stop work notices from the authorities were disregarded and this led to the provincial building board and physical planning board to decide to take the matter to court.
A private law firm has been engaged to get a court order to stop the construction on the guest rooms.
However, construction work continued with the erection of walls yesterday.
They are being built using the adjoining walls of nearby buildings and do not have a fire wall.
Under building regulations, those developing a property without a building approval and non-compliance of stop work notices are liable to a K4,000 fee per day of non-compliance.