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‘Builders will be blacklisted for violations'

Friday, 11 June 2010 00:49 administrator
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The Hindu      11.06.2010

‘Builders will be blacklisted for violations'

Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: Builders deviating from the approved plans and constructing unauthorised structures will be blacklisted, Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra said on Thursday. The stern warning came in the wake of the demolition of such structures in an apartment under construction at Saibaba Colony in the city on Wednesday.

“To violate is the rule now. But, we will teach the violators a lesson,” the Commissioner said.

“When approval for the building plan is applied for, we get an undertaking on a stamp paper f'rom the applicants that they will not deviate from the approved plan and construct any unauthorised/unapproved structure,” the Commissioner explained. “Yet, many still deviate from the plan. But, we will tackle this firmly.”

What the builders did not understand was that the loss was ultimately for them. They would lose all the money they had put into the construction when the Corporation demolished the unauthorised structures, Mr. Mishra pointed out.

When complaints of lack of periodic inspection of the construction were pointed out, the Commissioner said the civic body's engineers carried it out whenever the pressure of routine work eased. But, this was taken advantage of by the builders.

Welcoming the announcement that builders would be blacklisted, leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the Council P. Rajkumar said only stern measures would end violations.

Last Updated on Friday, 11 June 2010 00:52
 

180 parking lots to be regularised

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 05:52 administrator
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Deccan Chronicle      09.06.2010

180 parking lots to be regularised

June 9th, 2010
DC Correspondent
Tags: Regulation of parking lots, trade licences

June 8: The city corporation has decided to regulate 180 private parking lots by issuing trade licences in the wake of complaints regarding fleecing of motorists who use the facilities. The Mayor, M. Subramanian, had announced the proposal to regulate private parking lots in the council meet last year. “We have identified 180 such parking lots in the city,” a senior corporation official said.

As per the proposal, the private parking lots should obtain trade licences from the corporation and a no-objection certificate from the police. Motorists as well as elected representatives have been complaining to the civic body about the exorbitant charge imposed by the private parking lots.

The issue came to fore after a two-wheeler parking lot near the Nungambakkam railway station had encroached upon two streets in the area and started collecting as much as Rs 25 per day from two-wheeler owners as charge.

“With no regulation in place, they are charging exorbitant amount as fee,” said a source. “Hence we have also decided to fix a charge for the parking lots.” Sources said that the corporation is also examining the issue of motorists facing trouble while claiming insurance in case of vehicles going missing from parking lots.

“We do not know who will be responsible if the vehicles are lost as the parking lots are not taking responsibility of keeping them safely,” an official said. “After framing rules and regulations, we will table the resolution to this effect in the forthcoming council meet.” Mr N. Pandian, a government employee, said that the corporation should also fix parking charges for the shopping malls in the city as they are collecting as much as Rs 10 per hour for a two-wheeler. “In the weekends, they are charging even more,” he said.

 

Watch towers at the Marina sought

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 04:50 administrator
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The Hindu      02.06.2010

Watch towers at the Marina sought

Deepa H Ramakrishnan and Petlee Peter

Swelling with visitors: The facilities would help in better crowd management on the beach.

CHENNAI: The Chennai City Police has written to the Chennai Corporation asking the civic body to construct watch towers at three spots on the Marina Beach as part of the security improvement measures.

Commissioner of Police T. Rajendran said that the beach attracted a large number of visitors every day and such watch towers would help in better crowd management and intensifying security.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Shakeel Akhter said that apart from complaints about small crimes, the police were also getting reports about illegal activities on the Marina. Against this backdrop, there was a need for some kind of permanent police base on the beach. “We would also be installing cameras with which we can monitor the crowd better. These visuals would be monitored from a centralised location. We want to install such facilities at the Besant Nagar beach too.”

Recently, a student was robbed of his mobile phone, laptop and cash at knife-point on the Marina. There was also an attempt to kidnap a child sometime ago.

There have also been complaints of parked vehicles going missing. The Corporation has appointed 21 security personnel to guard its installations.

Prabhat Bhuddha Dev, a resident of Chepauk and frequent visitor to the Marina, said that though there were enough policemen on the beach, quite a large amount of space was taken up by the shops. “The establishments not only litter the beach but also make it difficult for visitors to walk on the sand. Sundays are especially crowded. It would be nice if the shops are also regulated.”

The Chennai Corporation clears about 40 tonnes of garbage every day from the Marina. Rough estimates show that the number of shops selling toys and eatables has increased from 1,000 to over 2,000.

Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said that steps would be taken to remove the shops in coordination with the police.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 June 2010 04:52
 
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