The Times of India 11.11.2009
'Lax action spursencroachments' NMC
NAGPUR: Even though the anti-encroachment squad of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and city police claim to conduct frequent drives against
encroachments on footpaths and roads, citizens allege that both the agencies simply go through the motions.
It is common experience that encroachers come right back, some times within minutes of civic squad leaving the place. A few days ago, commissioner of police Praveen Dixit himself launched a drive to remove encroachments between Rani Jhansi square and Variety Square. The police drive was assisted by the anti-encroachment squad of the NMC. However, encroachers came back even after promising that they would not. A visit to the road the next day revealed it was business as usual.
High court lawyer R P Joshi, while welcoming the police action, felt it was because of absence of deterrent action against encroachers. In most cases, just some material is seized. That too is returned after paying a nominal fine. Joshi pointed out encroachment on government property like footpaths and roads is a crime under the law. He wondered why the police do not arrest the encroachers and treat them like other criminals. He said deterrent action needed to be taken to tackle this menace, and feared that otherwise all government properties and lands would be encroached upon. Slums developed in the city basically because of inaction of public officials, he claimed.
Residents and road-users also pointed out that many market places in the city were encroached upon, but the cops never paid any heed to them. The NMC officials admitted the problem. Strangely they appeared to justify the action of shop-keepers in gobbling up the footpath. "In most cases they do not go beyond the footpath and the market doesn't get congested due to their action," said one NMC official as if rights of pedestrians to use footpaths just did not matter.
Despite repeated efforts, Commissioner of Police Praveen Dixit could not be contacted. However, a senior police official said that it was the duty of the NMC to remove encroachments. Though the shopkeepers had promised to abide by the rules, they took no time in flouting the same, he said but was unable to explain why provisions of law to make an arrest were not being used.
Meanwhile municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta said the NMC would take the help of corporators to make the city free from encroachments. The decision was taken in a meeting of corporators, standing committee chairman Pravin Bhisikar and Aseem Gupta. The civic chief said health inspectors would be appointed to conduct a survey on encroachments of each zones. Based on their reports, the corporator of every ward would be involved in keeping respective ward encroachment free, he added.
It is common experience that encroachers come right back, some times within minutes of civic squad leaving the place. A few days ago, commissioner of police Praveen Dixit himself launched a drive to remove encroachments between Rani Jhansi square and Variety Square. The police drive was assisted by the anti-encroachment squad of the NMC. However, encroachers came back even after promising that they would not. A visit to the road the next day revealed it was business as usual.
High court lawyer R P Joshi, while welcoming the police action, felt it was because of absence of deterrent action against encroachers. In most cases, just some material is seized. That too is returned after paying a nominal fine. Joshi pointed out encroachment on government property like footpaths and roads is a crime under the law. He wondered why the police do not arrest the encroachers and treat them like other criminals. He said deterrent action needed to be taken to tackle this menace, and feared that otherwise all government properties and lands would be encroached upon. Slums developed in the city basically because of inaction of public officials, he claimed.
Residents and road-users also pointed out that many market places in the city were encroached upon, but the cops never paid any heed to them. The NMC officials admitted the problem. Strangely they appeared to justify the action of shop-keepers in gobbling up the footpath. "In most cases they do not go beyond the footpath and the market doesn't get congested due to their action," said one NMC official as if rights of pedestrians to use footpaths just did not matter.
Despite repeated efforts, Commissioner of Police Praveen Dixit could not be contacted. However, a senior police official said that it was the duty of the NMC to remove encroachments. Though the shopkeepers had promised to abide by the rules, they took no time in flouting the same, he said but was unable to explain why provisions of law to make an arrest were not being used.
Meanwhile municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta said the NMC would take the help of corporators to make the city free from encroachments. The decision was taken in a meeting of corporators, standing committee chairman Pravin Bhisikar and Aseem Gupta. The civic chief said health inspectors would be appointed to conduct a survey on encroachments of each zones. Based on their reports, the corporator of every ward would be involved in keeping respective ward encroachment free, he added.
