The Hindu       10.02.2015   

Encroachments removed in Thanjavur

Civic body officials launched a major encroachment removal exercise to clear illegal occupation of roadsides on four major streets here on Monday.

Officials led by Commissioner T. Kumar started removing encroachments including shops and commercial establishments on West Main Street.

Those constructions, temporary and permanent, that were posing hindrance to public and vehicular traffic movement were pulled down and debris loaded on waiting trucks that carted them away.

Collector N. Subbaiyan had issued a directive to the local body officials to remove all encroachments on four major thoroughfares - West Main Street, East Main Street, North Main Street and South Main Street - sometime back. The move is possibly linked to the plan for a trial run of the new temple car for Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple soon.

Irked by constant clogging of main thoroughfares including Raja Mirasdar Hospital Road and Old Bus Stand area, public had urged the administration to remove encroachments on road margins that hindered free flow of traffic.

While pedestrians found it difficult to move around, motorists could only wade through the milling crowds pushed to the middle by the occupiers of the road margins.

Welcoming the encroachment removal drive, activists stressed the need to prevent cropping up of fresh illegal occupations. “It’s good that the encroachments are being removed.

The officials must not make a half-hearted attempt but must go the full distance in clearing the roads of all obstacles overcoming any impediment,” points out former president of the District Chamber of Commerce and Industry K. Padmanabhan. He adds that the effort would fully benefit the public only when the officials prevent encroachments from coming up again after some time.

Collector had asked the civic body on encroachments

Eviction drive taken up on four streets near the Big temple

The Hindu        06.02.2015  

Corpn. plans to recognise buildings that comply with norms

Mayor P. Rajkumar (second right) and Corporation Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan (fourth right) visiting a stall after inaugurating ‘BuildMat 2015’ in Coimbatore on Thursday. —Photo: K. Ananthan

Coimbatore Corporation plans to recognise the property owners, architects, and engineers of public buildings that comply with building norms fully, Coimbatore Mayor P. Rajkumar said here on Thursday.

Speaking at the inaugural of BuildMat 2015, a four-day exhibition of construction materials and equipment organised by Coimbatore chapters of Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India), Builders’ Association of India and Indian Institute of Architects, he said that while action is taken against buildings that violate the norms, public buildings that comply with rules should be recognised. The Corporation was working on the proposal.

The State Government has announced several infrastructure projects for Coimbatore, including an integrated bus stand, that will facilitate its development.

There are some cities where majority of the buildings comply with norms and some others where the number of buildings violating the rules is more. Construction industry representatives in Coimbatore have sought relaxation of certain norms to improve the compliance level. They have also demanded reduction in building licence fee. The Corporation would study the licence fee issue and reduce it, if there is an anomaly, he said.

Corporation Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan said that in any country, historical events are remembered through men who participated in it and through the structures. Buildings reflect the culture of a town or city and also the prosperity, efficiency and culture of a country. Thus, the legacy of Coimbatore will depend on the structures planned and built by the builders, engineers and architects here.

P. Surya Prakash, president of the Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India), said that modern technology has enabled customers know more about different kinds of construction materials.

Professionals in the construction sector deal with thousands of products and they need to have in-depth knowledge about each of these so that they can guide the customers. Such exhibitions are an opportunity for the professionals, customers and manufacturers to come together.

D.R. Sekar, chairman of Builders’ Association of India – Tamil Nadu, said that better air connectivity will help the city host international exhibitions and events. Expansion of Coimbatore airport will improve the air connectivity.

The Hindu Property Plus is the media partner for the exhibition.