New Regulations On Constructing Buildings Near Powerlines

Sri Lanka has introduced new regulations with regard to the minimum gap between power lines and buildings to ensure the safety of consumers and the properties.

The regulations were approved by the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy on the recommendation of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, are described in 30, 36 and 37 of the Electricity (Safety, Quality and Continuity) Regulations No. of 2016, require a minimum vertical and horizontal spacing on the construction of power lines and buildings.

The new regulation explains that the construction of a new building required to obtain a safety clearance certificate from who owns or operates the overhead line (Ceylon Electricity Board or Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited) through a written notice, explaining the intention to construct the building, if it cause any part of an overhead line.

However, a safety clearance certificate will not be issued and the building or structure should not be able to build if the distance from such building or structure is not on par with the spaces that have been mentioned in the regulation to any part of the overhead line. The Provincial Councils and the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils have already taken actions to implement the regulation. Accordingly, the regulation will be strictly considered when granting the permits for development purposes.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils has asked all the provincial councils to consider this regulation when issuing the permits for the new buildings. Therefore, the application for the development permit will require the information of the space clearance between the power lines and a new construction in the future.