Jabbarov warned about the risks of amnesty for illegal constructions

A simple amnesty for illegal constructions may temporarily alleviate social problems, but in the long term it can provoke the growth of new illegal developments and increase the burden on natural resources and infrastructure.

This was stated by Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov at the dialogue session "Transformation of Informal Settlements and Slums: Providing Housing for Peace" within the framework of WUF13 in Baku.

According to him, after gaining independence in 1991, Azerbaijan faced serious challenges in the process of state-building.

"At the same time, the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and the influx of refugees and internally displaced persons created enormous pressure on the country," the minister noted.

The minister reported that certain amnesty mechanisms were applied in Azerbaijan for the registration of multi-apartment residential buildings and some informal settlements that minimally met urban planning standards.

"At the same time, our experience has shown that the issue of legalization must be approached with extreme caution. A simple amnesty for illegal constructions may help resolve social problems during a certain period, but in the long term it can stimulate new illegal construction and create additional risks," he emphasized.

According to the head of the Ministry of Economy, this can lead to increased pressure on agricultural lands, forests, water resources, and important infrastructure zones.