Urban News

The Hindu 05.01.2010

Corporation directive on removing illegal hoardings

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The Town Planning Department of the Kochi Corporation should act against the illegally installed hoardings in the city, directed the Corporation Council meeting.

The steps initiated in the case should be reported to the council during its next sitting. The Town Planning Officer will be held responsible for any failure in implementing the directives of the council, said Mayor Mercy Williams.

Even the Mayor was seen complaining against the officials of the department for their alleged failure in acting against the illegally installed hoardings. Echoing the sentiments of the councillors, Ms. Williams said that the officials of the department were not providing the real number of hoardings installed in the city.

The officials were limiting their action to issuing notices against those who installed illegal structures, she said.

Several councillors complained that the officials were not giving the true picture regarding the number of hoardings. Though it was officially stated that there were around 200 hoardings in the central city area, the real number was much more than what was projected by the officials, a few councillors said.

C.K. Manisankar, Deputy Mayor, said the officials could demolish the illegal hoardings and its structures erected on poramboke and public land without issuing notices to the agencies which installed them. However, notices should be issued to the agencies in case of hoardings installed on private holdings and buildings, he said.

A.B. Sabu, the leader of the UDF in the council, alleged that the officials were colluding with the agencies engaged in setting up the hoardings and causing considerable revenue loss to the civic body. The corporation should take strong action against such corrupt practices, he said.

The officials were issuing notices even in case of illegal structures for facilitating the agencies to obtain injunction from courts against demolition, he said.

Those who took part in the discussion included V.J. Hycinth, T.J. Vinod, K.G. Dinesan, Sabu George and C.K. Gopalan.

The Hindu 02.01.2010

Ordinance planned for Akrama-Sakrama scheme

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: The State Government will issue an ordinance for regularisation of unauthorised housing layouts and violations in building bylaws under the Akrama-Sakrama scheme.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, Minister for Transport R. Ashok, who is also the district in charge Minister for Bangalore Urban, has said that the Government could not table a Bill on the scheme in the State Legislature during the winter session on account of disruptions in the proceedings of the house by the Opposition. Now, it was planning to issue the ordinance to regularise unauthorised constructions in the State. The issue would be discussed with Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and soon a decision would be arrived at. The Cabinet had already taken a decision on implementation of the scheme, he said.

The Government expects Rs. 10,000 crore by implementing the scheme, which would be utilised for developing infrastructure in urban local bodies.

Registration

The Government has issued registration certificates for 50,000 slum dwellers in Bangalore city and another 15,000 dwellers have been identified for issuing the certificates, Mr Ashok said.

The penalty for regularisation of unauthorised constructions fixed by the Government would be less than 50 per cent compared to the penalty fixed by the earlier governments, he claimed. However, the Opposition had termed the penalty as “unscientific” and demanded 50 per cent reduction in the penalty.

He said there was no substance in allegations made by the Congress that the Government had fixed an exorbitant penalty.

The exact amount of penalty would be known only after drafting of rules for violation of building bylaws, the Minister said.