The Hindu       17.03.2011

MCD move to check encroachment

In a bid to create more walking space for pedestrians, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi had recently begun taking action on second-hand car dealers who block the streets and the footpaths by lining the cars on the road and on the pavements.

The civic agency is now contemplating seizing the impounded cars from repeat offenders and disposing them of through various means including auction.

At a meeting of the MCD Standing Committee on Wednesday, the civic body officials claimed that they were carrying out several drives against second-hand car dealers who encroach on public space but each time the owners would repeat the offence. The action of impounding cars parked on public space and giving them back to dealers after collecting fines was having no effect on many of them, they added.

MCD commissioner K. S. Mehra said: “We have carried out drives in various MCD zones against second-hand car bazars in which dealers keep their vehicles parked on public space. Generally, we impound the cars and give them back after collecting fines. But many of them again do the same thing. It is high time we take strict action. How many times can we fine them? We are trying to make them understand that keeping public space free is important.”

A week back the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) had issued directions to all land owning agencies and the police to remove encroachments and create walking space for pedestrians.

The committee had asked all the land owning agencies to comply with its orders and has directed the police to take action against the encroachers.