The Hindu 25.06.2013
‘Remove illegal constructions’
Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake has
directed Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) officials to act against illegal
constructions and encroachments on public property.
Reviewing
the progress of BCC schemes here on Monday, he said the government had
received several complaints about illegal constructions. The BCC must
check illegal constructions and protect public property.
Water
The
Minister, who later spoke to presspersons, said the BCC and the
Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board had jointly prepared
short-term and long-term plans to improve the drinking water supply
system in Belgaum and a proposal had been sent to the Union Urban
Development Ministry.
Under the short-term plan, a
Rs. 10-crore proposal had been prepared for upgrading pumping stations
in Rakaskop and Hidkal reservoirs.
According to the
long-term plan, machinery would be installed to enhance pumping capacity
from the Hidkal reservoir from 12 mgd to 18 mgd, and canals and
pipelines would be upgraded to improve the pumping and distribution
systems. The upgrading would require around Rs. 212.20 crore.
Mr.
Sorake, who also reviewed the progress of the Belgaum Urban Development
Authority (BUDA), expressed his displeasure over the delay in
distributing housing sites to applicants. He directed the authorities
concerned to begin the process in a transparent manner.
He
warned the BUDA and other authorities about pursuing commercial
interests and advised them to prepare layouts considering the population
growth in 2014, by involving experts, elected representatives and
social organisations. He asked officials to plan projects without
looking for funds from the government, and to coordinate with the BCC to
check illegal constructions and encroachments.
Transfers
Mr.
Sorake said the government would transfer officials serving for a long
time in municipal bodies, so as to stimulate administration and
performance.
He reiterated that the government would
announce reservation for mayoral posts after the High Court delivered
its verdict on the matter on July 27.
