The Pioneer 09.09.2010
Mayor tells officials to remove hoardings fast
PNS | Dehradun
Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli issued some important instructions to officials of the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun regarding utilisation of MCD land and action to be taken regarding the installation of advertisement hoardings in town. The Mayor directed officials to draft a proposal for construction of low-cost residential buildings in the Brahmawala Khala area. The MCD officials have also been directed to draft proposal for construction a CMI-level hospital in the Kedarpur area and facilitate the auction of the shops constructed by the MCD.
The Mayor directed officials to work on decisions taken by the MCD regarding the installation of advertisement hoardings in town. However, councillors say that even though the Mayor has issued important directions, the same cannot be executed effectively by the MCD without a full-time Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA). Presently, the chief development officer Indu Dhar Baurai is handling the additional charge of the MNA.
The MCD owns about 70 bigha land in Brahmawala Khala area out of which about 25 bigha land has been allocated to the Culture Department and the remaining area is either vacant or has been encroached.
In order to put this land to good use, the Mayor has directed MCD officials to draft a proposal for construction of low-cost homes under the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna with funds provided by the Union Government. In the past, the MCD and the MDDA had tried to construct homes here but the venture was not successful because only the Urban Local Body receives Central Government funds for the task.
Mayor Vinod Chamoli also directed officials to draft a proposal for construction of a CMI-level hospital in the Kedarpur area under the PPP mode. He also pulled up officials for the slow pace of removal of unauthorised hoardings. Chamoli directed officials to remove hoardings within 30 metre radius of intersections in addition to which they were also directed to facilitate the removal of illegitimate rooftop advertisement hoardings.
The MCD will invite tenders on September 14 from companies interested in removing these rooftop hoardings. However, observers state that though the orders issued by the Mayor are important, they are not likely to be executed as efficiently as desired in the absence of a full-time MNA. Even the Mayor has said that discussions are being held with the Government to facilitate the appointment of a full-time MNA. In spite of this, councillors believe that important decisions taken by the Mayor will remain ornamental until there is a full-time MNA to ensure its effective execution.
