The Times of India 29.06.2010
Act on our directives in four months, HC to AMC
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat High Court has granted Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation four more months to implement laws based on the court directions issued during last one decade. These orders generally pertained to removal of illegal structures, smoothening traffic movement and following construction norms.
AMC sought further period of six months, but the bench headed by Chief Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya gave four months and directed the civic body to submit a report on October 25 on what action it had taken to comply with the directions. The high court has since year 2000 issued various orders for strict implementation of building norms like installation of fire-safety systems in high-rise buildings, for smooth traffic movement on city roads, and for removal of illegal constructions. However, seeing that the authorities did not comply with these directions, one citizen Dipal Kothari filed a PIL urging the court that the civic body must implement the rules.
Following the PIL, the high court set up Justice KM Mehta committee to look into the issues and recommend solutions. The court also sought action taken report from AMC. In its report, it was contended that notices have been issued to violators of norms besides issuance of public notice asking multi-storied building, commercial complexes, multiplexes, malls and schools to obtain no-objection certificates from competent authority after inspection of fire-safety system in buildings.
The corporation has also warned property owners to remove illegal constructions within stipulated time period else it would snap water and drainage connections. AMC has also warned people that it would seal the properties, if norms are found to be violated.
Interestingly, AMC report also admitted that there are government buildings, wherein proper fire-safety system is not installed.
In July last year, a high court bench pulled up AMC for not implementing laws, and set up a committee headed by retired judge of the high court, Justice KM Mehta.
The committee comprising five members — secretary of urban development department, AMC commissioner, Auda chairman, joint commissioner of police (traffic) and CEPT’s assistant director professor Sivanand Swamy — was set up.
AMC sought further period of six months, but the bench headed by Chief Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya gave four months and directed the civic body to submit a report on October 25 on what action it had taken to comply with the directions. The high court has since year 2000 issued various orders for strict implementation of building norms like installation of fire-safety systems in high-rise buildings, for smooth traffic movement on city roads, and for removal of illegal constructions. However, seeing that the authorities did not comply with these directions, one citizen Dipal Kothari filed a PIL urging the court that the civic body must implement the rules.
Following the PIL, the high court set up Justice KM Mehta committee to look into the issues and recommend solutions. The court also sought action taken report from AMC. In its report, it was contended that notices have been issued to violators of norms besides issuance of public notice asking multi-storied building, commercial complexes, multiplexes, malls and schools to obtain no-objection certificates from competent authority after inspection of fire-safety system in buildings.
The corporation has also warned property owners to remove illegal constructions within stipulated time period else it would snap water and drainage connections. AMC has also warned people that it would seal the properties, if norms are found to be violated.
Interestingly, AMC report also admitted that there are government buildings, wherein proper fire-safety system is not installed.
In July last year, a high court bench pulled up AMC for not implementing laws, and set up a committee headed by retired judge of the high court, Justice KM Mehta.
The committee comprising five members — secretary of urban development department, AMC commissioner, Auda chairman, joint commissioner of police (traffic) and CEPT’s assistant director professor Sivanand Swamy — was set up.
