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Urban Encroachment

20 yrs later, encroached drainage cleared

Tuesday, 19 October 2010 00:00 administrator
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The Times of India             19.10.2010

20 yrs later, encroached drainage cleared

KARWAR: Haliyal town panchayat officials cleared the encroachment of the area over a drainage on Tuesday. The Lokayukta had ordered the clearance a few days ago.

When the drainage was being cleared, some merchants who had illegally constructed the building over the drainage by encroaching it tried to resist the move. But the town panchayat officials cleared it without yielding to their pressure. With this, the 20 year old dispute over the drainage was solved.

On October 2, 2009 a local resident, Govind Nagesh Teli, filed a complaint with Lokayukta alleging that some influential merchants in the town had illegally built the structures over it. He had requested the Lokayukta to clear the encroachment and rebuild the drainage. Acting on the complaint, Lokayukta officials visited the town on October 8, 2010 and inspected the area and found that the drainage area was encroached. The Lokayukta had issued the ultimatum to the town panchayat officials to clear the encroachment or face disciplinary action.

Later, speaking to the media, M Ramesh, chief officer of Haliyal taluk panchayat said that a project to rebuild the drainage would be presented in the next taluk panchayat meeting. He said another building had been constructed at the beginning of the drainage and people there alleged that this too was illegal. "A survey will be conducted and the building demolished if it has been constructed illegally," he said.

 

Civic body calls for development plan for Thane illegal structures

Friday, 15 October 2010 10:55 administrator
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Indian Express    15.10.2010

Civic body calls for development plan for Thane illegal structures

Prashant Rangnekar Tags : Thane Municipal Corporation, illegal structure, B G Pawar Posted: Fri Oct 15 2010, 23:22 hrs

 Mumbai:  The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has sent a proposal to the state government for development of illegal structures through redevelopment or cluster development policies. “These buildings/structures cannot be regularised as rules were not followed during the construction. Most of them were constructed without any guidance from engineers and they are structurally unsafe,” said Thane Municipal Commissioner R A Rajeev.

“It is, however, proposed that these structures should be developed through redevelopment or cluster development. We have sent the proposal to the state government which will take the decision about this.”

According to B G Pawar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (encroachment), the city has around 5,000 buildings and over 2.30 lakh illegal structures. In 2010, some 12,000 structures have been demolished after the Bombay High Court order.

Thane and the satellite cities of Mumbai saw haphazard development in the early 90s when the population from Mumbai started shifting towards the distant suburbs. This was primarily due to closure of industrial units in the city and availability of bigger houses. In many cases, permission for construction was taken before the areas were brought under the Corporation areas. Places like Kalwa, Diva, Mumbra, Dombivli and Kalyan saw blatant violation of laws. Illegal constructions mushroomed with connivance of local politicians and civic bodies.

“We are not demolishing the buildings where people are residing. But when someone gets a house for cheap they also know about the legality of the house,” said Rajeev, adding, "We are not demolishing structures. For that we first need to coordinate with the local police and evacuate the people. But it is also to be seen that the city has to grow in a planned manner.” 

On action against guilty civic officers, Rajeev said, “We have suspended one Assistant Municipal Commissioner and have asked one to take compulsory retirement. Even an engineer has been suspended but I cannot comment on what has happened in the past.”

“The illegal constructions had political backings in the 90s but it now has the blessings of corporation officials,” said Jitendra Awhad, MLA from Mumbra. Diva and Kalwa- having the highest number of illegal constructions in the city.

But now there is growing tussle between the TMC officials and officials who come on deputation from the state government.

“We are sandwiched between these officials who are also hand-in glove with the politicians but go after completion of their tenure. We have to suffer the brunt,” said a TMC official.

Last Updated on Friday, 15 October 2010 10:57
 

Stalls, vendors occupy parking lots

Thursday, 14 October 2010 09:57 administrator
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The Hindu  14.10.2010

Stalls, vendors occupy parking lots

Staff Reporter

Contractors renting out parking space on KPHB-JNTU stretch


No space for motorists:Stall owners conducting unauthorised business in GHMC parking lot on Kukatpally main road.

HYDERABAD: Parking lots are meant for parking vehicles. But if one happens to drive along the KPHB-JNTU stretch on the Mumbai highway, all one finds is private travel agency stalls, fruit juice centres, pushcart vendors conducting business at will in the parking lots.

Making best use of the negligent attitude of GHMC authorities, contractors, who bagged paid parking lot space, are renting such space to business establishments.

As a result, motorists are finding it difficult to park their vehicles on the stretch, which is replete with shopping malls and commercial establishments.

“GHMC board declares the open space as parking lots. But it is private travel agencies stalls and pushcarts that occupy the space and hardly any space if left for motorists,” fumes Mahipal Reddy, a regular visitor.

During weekends and festive occasions, even pedestrians find it difficult to walk along the stretch due to space crunch as motorists' park their vehicles on the road.

Right from JNTU junction to KPHB Colony entrance, there are over 10 parking lots but majority of the lots are rented to private establishments. Be it the parking lots near J.C. Brothers showroom or Remedy Hospitals, situation remains the same.

GHMC allows the contractors to charge Rs. 5 and Rs. 10 as parking fee for two-wheelers and four-wheelers respectively. This apart, Rs. 2 is charged as extra parking fee for every one hour after the minimum one hour time is lapsed. But many contractors rent the parking space to private establishments and reap more profits.

“We pay Rs. 30 as daily rent. When GHMC recovery van arrives here, pushcart vendors pay Rs. 300 as monthly rent and obtain valid receipt. But contractors demand the daily rent as usual,” says Suresh, a pushcart owner.

Apart from causing inconvenience to motorists, the practice is resulting in huge revenues loss to GHMC. Though it is mandatory for showrooms and shop owners to provide parking space to their customers, hardly any showroom provides such space, points out Radhakrishna, a resident of KPHB Colony.

Last Updated on Thursday, 14 October 2010 09:58
 
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