The Hindu 27.12.2011
GVMC to assert right over open spaces
GVMC will assert its right over open sites in the city in an effort to accommodate hawkers’ zones.
It
is estimated that GVMC has 741 open sites running into 641 acres whose
value runs into hundreds of crores of rupees. “It is estimated that
about 10 per cent of the open sites are under encroachment,” says
Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu.
Once the
layout was approved by VUDA showing open space, it belonged to GVMC and
VUDA had no right over it, he told reporters here on Monday. GVMC should
have the title deed.
Survey
Even
if the sites were used for the purpose they were meant, say like
setting up educational institutions, GVMC would have a member on the
committee to safeguard it, he says.
If a building had already been constructed on the open space, it would be seized, he said.
The City Planning Department has already taken up enumeration of sites by making field verification.
A
survey of constructions in Zone I revealed that there were about 40 to
50 unauthorised constructions. The Commissioner said a similar survey be
taken up in all zones.
He ordered that the assistant
city planner concerned by shifted to the GVMC main office and a charge
memo issued to the town planning assistant.
After the
removal of bottlenecks at NAD Kotha Road following the instructions of
Mr. Ramanjaneyulu and providing ‘free left’ for vehicles, the focus
shifted to addressing the problems of pedestrians.
The
Commissioner spoke to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant CMD A.P. Choudhary and
urged him to set up a foot over-bridge under corporate social
responsibility and the latter agreed.
The Steel Plant
has earlier agreed to provide to FOBs to the corporation and it did not
materialise as the contractor reportedly stopped work midway.
