The Hindu 22.12.2010
Panel takes serious note of damage to roads
KAKINADA: The road safety committee which met here on Tuesday passed a resolution unanimously to levy fine on those who were resorting to damage the roads and highways in the district. The meeting chaired by district Collector M. Ravi Chandra said there were potholes on many roads, due to which accidents were taking place often.
“A few businessmen who set up shops on the roadside occupied some portion of the roads and damaged them making the lives of road users vulnerable,” Mr. Ravi Chandra said.
He said officials of the electricity department and municipalities were already instructed to stop electricity and drinking water supplies to such shops. Notices would be issued to the encroachers and action would be initiated against the erring traders, he said.
Steps were initiated to register cases under the provisions of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, he said.
The meeting observed that some highways passing through rural pockets were turned into dumping yards, as people made it a practice to dump their wastes on them.
Issues including movement of tractors on the highways, absence of caution boards, drunken driving, absence of wearing helmet and seatbelt while driving were discussed at length in the meeting.
Deputy Transport Commissioner M. Praveen Rao, project director of National Highway Authority of India M.V. Nirmala and other officials were present.
