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Stop anti-hoarding drive, says Govt to MCD

Thursday, 28 October 2010 09:22 administrator
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The Pioneer  28.10.2010

Stop anti-hoarding drive, says Govt to MCD

PNS | Dehradun

The State Government has once again prevented the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun from undertaking its campaign of removing unauthorised advertisement hoardings. The beginning of this week was marked by the release of an order from the State Government directing the MCD to stop its drive of removing unauthorised hoardings. However, the future course of this drive will be decided by the decision of the Court in the case filed by advertising agencies against the drive undertaken by the MCD.

According to official sources, the few advertising agencies which were prevented from renewing their registration for non-payment of pending dues have probably exerted their influence to pressurise the Government to issue the order to stop the anti-hoarding drive being undertaken by the MCD.

The Dehradun Mayor, Vinod Chamoli, had announced that as part of measures aimed at beautification of the town, the MCD would removal all unauthorised advertisement hoardings including those the duration for which has not been renewed by the advertising agencies concerned. The MCD started its drive by removing unauthorised advertisement hoardings from near the Rispana Bridge without making substantial progress because the owners of the hoardings started protesting against the action taken by MCD.

The advertising agencies exerted their political influence as a result of which even the State Government directed the MCD to stop its drive aimed at removal of unauthorised advertisement hoardings.

Last Updated on Thursday, 28 October 2010 09:23
 

HC asks for explanation over demolition of Clock Tower

Thursday, 28 October 2010 09:18 administrator
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The Pioneer  28.10.2010

HC asks for explanation over demolition of Clock Tower

PNS | Mussoorie

The High Court has taken serious cognisance of the unauthorised constructions in Mussoorie and the demolition of the historic Clock Tower there. A joint bench consisting of judges Tarun Agrawal and VK Bisht has directed the Mussoorie municipal council chairman and executive officer to submit their explanation within four weeks from October 20.

This directive was given during the hearing of the public interest litigation filed by Anil Goyal in which he has alleged irregularities in the issuing of work tenders in the Mussoorie municipal council. While presiding over the hearing of the case, the judges considered the media reports on the demolition of the historical Clock Tower in Mussoorie by the municipal authority. This heritage building was destroyed without the cause being justified and being approved by the public.

The judges also considered the proposed buildings to be constructed in place of the Clock Tower in Mussoorie before issuing a notice to the municipal council chairman and executive officer to submit their explanation for these actions within four weeks time period. It is pertinent to mention that the buildings proposed to be constructed in place of the Clock Tower include another Clock Tower and a multi-purpose auditorium but neither of these proposals has elicited the approval of the majority of either the public or elected public representatives till date. The order of the High Court elicited the opposition of municipal council employees who boycotted work for a day and tried to prevent the board meeting from being held.

The employees allowed the meeting to be held after municipal council chairman OP Uniyal informed them about the need for holding the board meet in time for the reply to be submitted to the High Court.

When the board meeting started, nominated member and petitioner Anil Goyal reached the board room but the chairman OP Uniyal was angered by this and told him to get out alleging that by filing a PIL against the municipal council, he had attacked the prestige of the municipal body. However, Goyal said that he had been nominated a member of the municipal board by the Government and would leave the meeting only if the executive officer issued an order in writing directing him to do so. After this the chairman and some board members went to the room of the chairman where the board meeting was held behind closed doors.

Goyal alleged that the chairman had created the scene in order to affect the proceedings of the High Court.

Last Updated on Thursday, 28 October 2010 09:21
 

GMADA to relocate religious places from encroached land

Thursday, 28 October 2010 09:09 administrator
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The Times of India                 28.10.2010 

GMADA to relocate religious places from encroached land
MOHALI: Finally taking notice of blatant religious encroachments present in Mohali city, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has been asked to look for alternative sites to shift two such religious structures. These would be part of the first phase of removal or shifting of such encroachments.

The meeting in this regard on Monday was chaired by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. It was decided that 14 religious encroachments, which were located on prime residential or commercial land, would be allotted new sites and that some of them would be allowed to operate in the land already with them and the rest of the land would be handed back to GMADA for development.

One of the discussed religious structures, a gurudwara in Sector 69, is an encroachment on a public park of 14 acres. Out of the total area, four acres is the area in which the gurudwara is built. As such the rest of the land would be handed over to GMADA.

GMADA estate officer Balbir Singh Dhol said that the process of identifying sites for shifting the religious structures would be commenced shortly but since the structures have existed in the area for a long while, the planning of Mohali city was done around them. He said, "We are in the process of speaking to the management of the religious structures which are in violation and have encroached upon public land. Managements have been told that although their structures would be regularized, they would be required to hand over land to GMADA which they do not require." He said another religious structure, a temple in Sector 66, would now be allotted a fresh site between sectors 66 and 70 and work on that front would commence soon.
 
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