The Hindu 14.12.2010
MLA manhandles GHMC official
| Town planning wing to go on mass causal leave as protest |
GHMC, Traffic Police crack down on commercial establishments lacking adequate parking space
MLA swears at official, drags him by the collar when a bakery is being shut as part of the drive
HYDERABAD: The GHMC's entire town planning wing has decided to go on a mass casual leave from Tuesday demanding that Congress (Jubilee Hills) MLA P. Vishnuvardhan Reddy apologise for allegedly manhandling and abusing an Assistant City Planner (ACP) on Monday.
Drive
Mr. Reddy caught hold of the shirt collar of ACP Ramesh Babu when he and his colleagues were closing down a bakery at S.R. Nagar as part of the ongoing drive taken up jointly by GHMC and Traffic Police to crack down on commercial establishments lacking adequate parking space on the directions of the High Court and Lok Ayukta.
Political intervention
Senior officials charged that Mr. Reddy, along with his followers rushed to a bakery on his bike, dragged Mr. Babu by his collar using abusive language and forced the municipal staff to open a closed shop.
In fact, Mr. Reddy only joins a dubious list of political bigwigs intervening to prevent Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and Traffic Police from acting tough against the identified 196 commercial establishments lacking parking space and cellar violations in some of the busiest roads. Roadside parking was causing traffic bottlenecks at these spots.
Measures
Following orders by the High Court and Lok Ayukta, GHMC had issued notices to them in August last to take up immediate temporary measures and gave 60 days' time for permanent steps to provide parking space.
In between, a city Minister, son of a local MP and Majlis leaders stalled any drastic action being taken against big establishments, forcing authorities to punish the small fry.
Traffic problems
As per municipal rules, every commercial building should have 40 per cent of the built up area earmarked for parking and senior officials point out that road widening alone cannot ease the traffic problems unless illegal parking is tackled.
“We are really keen on shutting down a couple of high-profile commercial establishments to send a strong message and had identified 37 notorious ones, but are unable to do so despite standing court orders,” admitted senior officials.
