DAMASCUS, (SANA) – President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday issued legislative decree No 41 for 2012 on exempting farmers who are owed with dues of irrigation and land reclamation from fees before 2011 if they pay off all their duties during a year from issuing the decree.

Earlier, President al-Assad issued Decree no. 40 for 2012 on breaches of building regulations.

The decree stipulates for eliminating all forms of building violations of all types, imposing financial penalties and imprisoning those proven responsible, in addition to the workers at the Local Administration departments who do not fulfill their duty in curbing violation after the date of the decree issuance.

Minister of Local Administration, Omar Ibrahim Ghalawanji, said that the Legislative Decree No. 40 on Building Breaches is one of the most important new legislations, being a qualitative stride in curbing building violations in all provinces, as it gives a legal and technical identity to the existing buildings except for those which do not meet the safety of construction conditions, buildings constructed on public lands or those breaching the ratified design.

R. Milhem / H. Said