The Hindu          28.06.2011

GVMC gets tough with encroachments

Staff Reporter

It is only a matter of time before all encroachments and unauthorised constructions are removed, Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu has said.

Close on the heels of action against a three-storey building at Kapparada on Sunday, three more structures in ward 12 came under the scanner on Monday.

Compound wall of a house encroaching upon the thoroughfare at the 80-ft road at Ramakrishnanagar, a staircase constructed with setback deviation and an unauthorised construction in the cellar of an apartment against which residents complained were ordered to be removed during his visit to ward 12. The Town Planning wing has identified 300 unauthorised constructions in the city.

Throwing debris on the road would not be tolerated, Mr. Ramanjaneyulu told reporters citing the instance of a mall at Resapuvanipalem being fined up to Rs.10,000.

On improving revenue, he said from hoardings of advertisements the present income was around Rs.6.5 crore owing to the failure of the agency. By calling for a single tender it could be improved up to Rs.10 crore to Rs.15 crore.

Mr. Ramanjaneyulu said those displaced by the corporation's development work would be given houses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission without any lottery for initial allotment. For choosing a flat, lots would be drawn. Those living on railway land at Sevanagar had expressed readiness to move to the urban mission houses. Also those left out for expansion of the 80-ft road at Akkayyapalem would be accommodated there.

The civic works would be speeded up, he said. Contractors taking up too many works would be restricted. Orders of contractors who had not begun work would be cancelled.

Rs.5 lakh for zone

Each of the six zones would be sanctioned Rs.5 lakh for removal of encroachments like ramps and slabs laid on to the road. The encroachments should be removed first and fine collected from owners, he said during his visit to the Sankar Mutt road. For construction of culvert on the 80-ft road the earlier order should be cancelled and a fresh bid invited.