Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "building" includes any structure or erection or any part of a building as so defined, but does not include plant or machinery comprised in a building; (b) "Collector" means the Collector of a district; (c) "competent authority", in relation to any area, means such officer or authority as the Government may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint as the competent authority for that area for the purposes of this Act; (d) "erection", in relation to a building, includes extension, alteration or re-erection; (e) "land" includes benefits to arise out of land and things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything attached to the earth; (f) "local authority" means a municipal corporation, a municipal council, a township committee, a panchayat, a development authority or a town planning trust; (g) "occupier" includes- (i) any person who for the time being is paying or is liable to pay to the owner the rent or any portion of the rent of the land or building in respect of which such rent is paid or is payable; (ii) an owner in occupation of, or otherwise using, his land or building; (iii) a "rent-free tenant" of any land or building; (iv) a "licensee" in occupation of any land or building; and (v) any person who is liable to pay to the owner damages for the use and occupation of any land or building; (h) "owner" includes any person who is receiving or is entitled to receive the rent of any building or land, whether on his own account or on behalf of himself and others or as agent or trustee, or who would so receive the rent or be entitled to receive it if the building or land were let to a tenant; (i) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (j) "slum area" means an area declared as such under sub-section (1) of section 3; (k) "slum clearance" means the clearance of any slum area and the demolition and removal of buildings therefrom; (l) "slum clearance area" or "clearance area" means an area in relation to which an order of slum clearance has been made under sub-section (1) of section 11; (m) "State" means the State of Kerala; (n) "work of improvement" includes, in relation to any building in a slum area, the execution of any one or more of the following works, namely:- (i) necessary repairs; (ii) structural alterations; (iii) provision of light points, water taps and bathing places; (iv) construction of drains, open or covered; (v) provision of latrines, including conversion of dry latrines into water-borne latrines; (vi) provision of additional or improved fixtures or fittings; (vii) opening up or paving of court-yards; (viii) removal of rubbish; and (ix) any other work including the demolition of any building or any part thereof which in the opinion of the competent authority is necessary for executing any of the works specified above.