The problem with illegal construction has been going on for decades and the state must cut it once - to allow what has been done so far to be legalized, but to draw a line and make such a disincentive law that in the future it will deter those who build illegally, even with criminal liability. says Nikola Velkovski who has a rich career in construction and urban planning.

He is a former chief architect of the City of Skopje, He was also the President of the Construction Association at the Chamber of Commerce, and for more than 30 years he has been managing the design and construction company "Incom Engineering".

- I am not in favor of clearing up the illegal constructions so that they will be demolished. It is quite legitimate then for someone to ask why they did not intervene during the construction, and not after it was built. For the decade-long problem with illegal buildings, I think that the more the people are guilty, the more the state is guilty. Here I am thinking primarily of the very long process of issuing building permits, which put some citizens tempted to build illegally, because they had a necessary need for housing. Then we can also see the slowness in making urban plans. To build something illegal is a very big risk, with constant fear of the state, with the inability to sell, to pass on to the heirs. That "price" is much higher than a project and utilities for legal construction. Therefore, the question should be asked why there are illegal buildings. Therefore, I think that the state should create better conditions to be able to build, but at the same time to cut, so that after an extensive discussion, with very concrete solutions, it will adopt a completely disincentive law for illegal construction - says Velkovski.

He explains that illegal buildings hardly fit into an urban solution.

- When the process is reversed and when houses are built first, it is very difficult then to create conditions for an urban living in which there should be greenery and a road and a school… Therefore, the illegal constructions must be stopped once and for all - says Velkovski.

He says the word "illegal construction" is not known in the world.

- At the time, when I had meetings abroad, I said that we have problems with illegal construction, but I was asked what that word means. I explained to them - so these are buildings that were built without a permit, and they asked me how is that possible ?! - Velkovski recalls.

Velkovski is categorical that not everyone can build where he wants and what he will think.

- The state plans urbanism. Landowners cannot plan on their own. No owner can be an urban planner. Yes, the right to property is guaranteed by the Constitution, but what is according to the plan will be built, and if, for example, a road should be built for the general interest, then that land is taken away, of course for a fair compensation - says Velkovski.

It is a crime for builders to build a building without a building permit

According to the legislation, every building, even an individual house, should be made by a licensed company.

- No contractor may build a building that does not have a building permit. The law also provides for penalties, namely - criminal liability for the responsible person and financial liability for the company - explains Velkovski.

To our question where then so many illegal buildings in the country came from, his answer is short: It is about a gray economy!

He reminds that without a building permit, the facility must not be connected to electricity or water supply network. However, about 50.000 illegal buildings have been built in the country since 2011, when regulations, including utility rules, began to tighten to prevent illegal construction.