The Ministry of Urban Development released the “Model Building Byelaws” in 2016 to maximise public health and safety by regulating construction work and maintenance. However, these laws can have the opposite impact and push low-income residents into further precariousness. This is because multiple barriers prevent low-income people from complying with laws, such as the lack of information about regulation, shortage of formally trained masons, expensive compliant construction material, blanket application of laws and punitive measures.
