Illegal constructions in Iran’s Bam alarming

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LONDON, November 4 (IranMania) - Residents of Bam, Kerman province, which was hit by a devastating quake in December 2003, are ignoring the scaffolding installed around cultural heritage sites and are building houses in those areas.

According to CHN, sections of the city which were designated as green area by Bam Municipality were sold by landowners who only seek personal gain.

An expert at Iran?s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) Shahriar Adl said that construction in certain parts of the city has been banned by Bam Municipality. A section of the city has been declared under the jurisdiction of cultural heritage while other areas have been reserved for green zones.

?However, a landowner ignored the restrictions and the plans for setting up green areas in the city and sold plots of lands to the public thus creating problems for the city authorities.

?Those who have bought the land have engaged in construction activities in the prohibited areas. They have also removed the scaffolding rods on the land and asked workers not to place extra rods.?

ICHTO expressed concern about the current state of affairs in Bam and said that construction works should be undertaken in certain sections of the city earmarked by the authorities as residential areas and there should be no constructions in sections designated for green areas.

The organization called on respective officials to prevent landowners from hindering the comprehensive plan for urban development in the city.