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Urban Encroachment

HC notice to Babush's son for encroachment

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The Times of India                29.08.2010

HC notice to Babush's son for encroachment

PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Monday issued a notice to the education minister's son, Amit Monserrate, for allegedly encroaching on an open space at Miramar.

A division bench comprising Justice D G Karnik and Justice F M Reis passed the order on a public interest litigation filed by former chief town planner Dr S P Deshpande, who complained about the encroachment on plot valued at Rs 10 crore.

Deshpande alleged that the encroachment is in plot No. 5 and plot No. 6, admeasuring an area of 900 sq m, which were earmarked as open spaces as per the planning rules.

Encroachment has been carried out "by building an illegal compound wall which forms a part of Monserrate's bungalow", Deshpande has stated.

Deshpande appeared in person before the court on Monday and argued that even after several complaints to the authorities, no action has been taken.

While stating that a site inspection had been carried out by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), he pointed out that the inspection clearly confirmed that the structure was an encroachment.

The current market value of the encroached plot is about 10 crore, Deshpande stated and prayed that the authorities should be directed to take action against the encroacher.

The court, thereafter issued notices to Amit, the CCP and the North Goa Planning and Development Authority.

The court will hear the petition further on October 18.

 

Encroachment troubles Ravipuram

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The New Indian Express  29.09.2010

Encroachment troubles Ravipuram

KOCHI: Ravipuram, a UDF bastion,  will be reserved for women this time, after its stint in the general category. Councillor of the area, David Parambithara, also the Environment Work Committee Chairman of the Corporation says that he has concentrated on solving the biggest problem of the division — waterlogging .

According to the councillor, “Work according to the plan developed by Esteem developers to control waterlogging was implemented during this term. The JNNURM/ KSUDP-funded `1.5 crore work of building a drain from the Shipyard area to the lake near Venduruthy Bridge is almost finished. This drain is functional now and has reduced waterlogging in the Atlantis area, where the problem was severe and parts of Ravipuram too. The second phase of another drain from Ravipuram road  spending `35 lakh from JNNURM/ KSUDP fund has also been finished. Once the work is finished it will correct the flow of water in the area and reduce waterlogging to a large extent. A culvert was built by the Indian Railways at K S N Menon Road after litigation.”

He  said, “All the drains in the division have been cleaned and maintained and some raised. Some smaller drains were made bigger, so as to facilitate easy flow of water. These drains were also covered with slabs. Ten small culverts were also built across the division. Various funds were utilised for the work. Roads were also raised across the division to control waterlogging. However, despite all this, he agrees that waterlogging is yet to be solved in some  areas.”

David Parambithara claims that he has solved the potable water problem of the division. “Pipes have been changed and water connection given to some colonies. Severe water shortage in areas like Kannarkkattparambu and Koottanparambu, etc, were solved by giving interconnection from the line to the Island. Here, the pipes need to be changed now.”

He says that besides drainage maintenance, the division fund was also utilised for putting streetlights across the division. Sodium Vapour lamps were put almost everywhere. Almost all the bylanes were concreted and roads tarred.” The councillor says that road tarring was carried out at K S N Menon Road, Kizhavana Road, etc, which were raised and tarred. Some other roads like Karimbatta Road  were tarred. While some roads like Alappat Road and Alappat Cross Road, and Kurisupalli Road and its cross road have been raised but are yet to be tarred. Various funds like People’s Plan fund, Division fund and General fund have been used for road work.

Slum development work was carried out at Kudumbi Colony using the KSUDP fund. The Anganwadi at Padiyath Junction has been modified and maintained utilising People’s Plan fund. Twenty-five houses were allotted in the division under BSUP.  

Residents here complain that waterlogging still troubles some parts of the division. Areas like Kannarkkattparambu, Koottanparambu, etc still face severe waterlogging during heavy rain. Encroachment is another problem that troubles Ravipuram. Lapse of timely evacuation on the part of the Corporation and other authorities have led to encroachment of Puramboke land in many areas around the division.

Ravipuram will be division no. 61 in the coming elections.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 06:54
 

Tree fall: Compensation for all

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Hindustan Times  28.09.2010

Tree fall: Compensation for all
 
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) passed a landmark policy on Monday that compensates all victims of tree and branch collapses in the city. In its series of reports on tree collapses, Hindustan Times had criticised the BMC’s outdated tree pruning mechanism and held it accountable for such accidents.

Following the reports, the civic chief had announced that a new tree trimming mechanism and a compensation policy would be in place by the end of September.

“It is probably the first time in the BMC’s history that the municipal commissioner has stepped in and acted so swiftly, and formulated a policy in this regard,” said Niranjan Shetty, a Tree Authority member.

As per the policy, there are three types of compensation: Rs 1 lakh for the family of a victim killed; Rs 50,000 for victims who suffer permanent disability; and all medical expenses taken care of for those injured, provided they get treated in a civic hospital.

The policy will cover all victims, irrespective of whether the tree is located on public space or private premises.

In its original policy, the BMC had proposed that it would compensate only victims in cases where the trees are located on public space.

“We made it clear to the BMC that we won’t accept a policy that does not cover all victims, irrespective of the location of the tree,” said Niyaz Vanu, NCP leader and Tree Authority member.

“We amended the policy. In the new policy, the location of the tree is not important but the location of the victim is,” said Chandrashekhar Rokade, deputy municipal commissioner (gardens). In its September 10 edition, HT had reported that the BMC had finally decided to compensate all victims.

The BMC will form a committee that will look into all cases where somebody is injured or killed. “It will decide on the compensation a victim should get,” Rokade said.

The policy, however, does not spell out the penalty to be levied on societies or people who don’t trim trees despite a BMC nod. “The committee will decide what action should be taken,” he said.

BJP corporator Ram Barot criticised the policy. “The BMC should have increased the amount, especially for the family who has lost someone,” he said.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 28 September 2010 11:47
 


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