Government to battle illegal buildings

Illegal buildings surrounding the Veľká Domaša water reservoir in eastern Slovakia should be removed by the beginning of 2020 at the latest, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini promised on Tuesday after the Government held an away session in Stropkov (Prešov region). Environment Minister László Sólymos in cooperation with Justice Minister Gábor Gál (both Most-Hid) are to propose by September how the structures will be removed. A new document outlining the move will serve as a model for the procedures that all state organisations, cities, towns and municipalities can follow to remove illegal buildings in their jurisdiction, explained Pellegrini. He added it can't be tolerated when someone puts up a building without a construction permit and then threatens to press charges when it's destroyed by the state or local authorities.