The Hindu 25.10.2013
HDMC to initiate legal action against sangha, ‘for damaging public amenities’
The Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) is set to
initiate legal action against the Karnatak Vidyavardhak Sangha (KVS)
for “damaging civic amenities.”
The KVS and
Hubli-Dharwad Nagarika Parisara Samiti headed by its executive committee
member Shankar Kumbi came under the scanner for damaging a footpath
adjacent to the KVS premises while planting saplings on Sunday. In this
connection HDMC issued a show-cause notice to the KVS general secretary
and gave three days’ time to reply.
HDMC zonal
officer V. Shridhar said KVS replied on Thursday but failed to furnish
correct explanation for damaging the footpath. In their reply they
conceded that the pit was dug on the footpath illegally. At the same
time they tried to defend themselves saying that there were trees
planted on footpath on other locations of the city.
“This
reply makes no sense. The trees planted on other footpaths were there
much before the footpaths were constructed; HDMC saved them while
constructing the footpath. This, however, does not mean that the
existing footpath can be dug up to plant saplings,” he said.
Last move
Mr.
Shridhar added that HDMC would issue one more letter to KVS asking them
to reconstruct the footpath and shift the trees on their own.
Otherwise, HDMC would take up the footpath reconstruction works and
recover the expenses from KVS. The monetary loss caused by damaging the
footpath has yet to be ascertained.
HDMC is concerned
for the environment, but is it right to damage civic amenities in this
manner? he asked. Mr. Shridhar stated that HDMC was compelled to
initiate legal action against KVS in this regard, lest it encourage
others to damage civic amenities “in the name of saving the
environment.”
