A common sight across many places in the city is
construction material dumped on the road, leading to disruption of
traffic that causes inconvenience to the public. The problem continues
unchecked.

Sand, bricks, iron, cement bags, gravel,
wooden logs and other essential items for construction activity for a
house or business establishment are found encroaching upon road space,
forcing vehicles to take alternative route or manoeuvre in the little
space available.

Hardship

This
causes hardship to the road users, particularly those on two-wheelers
and pedestrians who could come to grief on the sand left on the road.

Though
the civic body has already warned against such activities and levies a
fine of Rs. 500 against violators, lack of implementation and monitoring
has led to the practice being continued.

Members of
residential welfare associations said that written consent should be
obtained from the applicant when building permission is given, so that
they could be fined or proceeded against for encroaching upon roads.

They
also added that a few roads were closed for public use when
construction activity is going on in a particular house, thus causing
hardship to all.

“Already the roads are found to be a
place for dumping garbage and debris, besides being damaged by
underground drainage work. Encroachments by individuals should not be
allowed,” added the members.

Warning

Corporation Commissioner M. Ashokan told
The Hindu
that all the Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineers have been
instructed to take action against persons dumping construction materials
on roads and warned them against dumping.

“Road space is not to store material and action would be taken according to law,” he added.

The
civic body has also asked officials concerned to inspect areas under
their jurisdiction and submit a report confirming that there are no such
encroachments.

“If encroachments are found, action would be taken against the officer,” added a corporation official.

Some
days ago, a Plus Two girl student, on her way to write an examination,
was killed under the wheels of a tractor in Maravaneri as the vehicle —
to avoid hitting a vehicle coming in the opposite direction — took a
sharp left and hit the girl on her bicycle.

The road had narrowed due to the dumping of sand meant for house construction work.