New law aims to speed up urban transformation process

The parliament has approved a law that aims to speed up the process of urban transformation in areas that face earthquake risk.

"Law on the Amendment of the Law on the Transformation of Areas under Disaster Risk and Certain Laws and the Decree," approved by the parliament on Nov. 8, introduces new procedures in the annulment lawsuits filed against administrative actions based on damage assessment reports, except for the transactions regarding the ownership of rights, provided that they are related to the damages caused by these earthquakes and subsequent earthquakes in the places that were recognized as disaster areas.

According to new regulations, the Urban Transformation Presidency will be established and organized as an administration with a special budget. An arrangement will be made to continue to allocate the World Bank-funded loan to the Urban Transformation Presidency.

The identification of at-risk buildings can be made ex officio by the Urban Transformation Presidency or the administration. As it has been found in practice that some owners or lessees prevent officials from identifying dangerous buildings and do not allow them to take samples from their own independent units for identification, it will be possible to identify dangerous buildings with the help of law enforcement force, based on the written permission to be given by the local administrative supervisor, if necessary.

The duties and powers given to the Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Ministry regarding the demolition of risky buildings will now be exercised by the Urban Transformation Presidency. Owners will be given a maximum of 90 days to demolish risky buildings 

In urban transformations, all works and transactions, including obtaining a...