The Hindu 11.03.2011
BMC told to stop social functions at mandaps without parking space
The State government has directed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation
(BMC) to stop social functions at mandaps where there is no parking
space.
“It has come to the notice of government that social
functions are held at so many mandaps in Bhubaneswar without any parking
place, for which inconvenience is caused to the general public,” said
Sanjib Kumar Mishra, Joint Secretary to Housing and Urban Development
department here on Thursday.
Mr. Mishra said the BMC was asked to exercise Orissa Municipal Corporation Act, 2003 to prohibit such social functions.
There were several mandaps situated in very close
proximity and the combined strength of parking place would have to be
taken into account, the Joint Secretary said.
Plan to be chalked out
BMC Commissioner Vishal Dev confirmed receiving such
direction from HUD department and said, “we are examining how to
progress on the issue. We will chalk out a detailed plan for
implementation of the directive.”
For long concern has been raised on social functions
such as marriages, birthdays and other cultural events being organised
in mandaps having no parking place. Guests who come to attend the
functions have no option, but to park their vehicles on road. Situation
comes to such a pass that vehicles hardly move along the roads due to
congestion.
A year ago Bhubaneswar police along with Bhubaneswar
Development Authority and Fire Service wing had conducted a joint
inspection about status of mandaps taking two factors – causing traffic
chaos due to no facility for parking and prevention measures for fire
mishaps – into account.
Sources said they had found most of mandaps were not fit
to hold large social congregation. However, for obvious reasons these
mandaps could not be debarred from renting out their space.
In Unit-III area (Kharavelanagar), several associations
have been allotted small patches of land to construct their association
office buildings. But with passage of time, these associations have
started allowing public functions to be held in the cramped space.
Guests park their vehicles in front of houses of local residents and
block movement.
“For long we have been demanding restriction on social
functions which cause public inconvenience. Small buildings which are
not even fit for holding small birthday parties allow big marriage
functions. Besides parking woes, the dumping of waste food along the
road unnerves people,” said Pravati Panda, a local resident of
Kharavelanagar.
The government order is, however, silent on big hotels,
which hold multiple social functions simultaneously, but they don’t
provide parking facility to their customers.
