JOIN USDumping of debris on roadside, illegal hoardings, buildings violating laws, encroachment of roads by the roadside vendors... have become a common sight in Mangalore City Corporation. Though the Corporation initiates measures against the violators, it has not been able to put an end to all the woes inspite of the removal drive or imposing fine on the violators. A proposal on the Enforcement Cell which has been sent to the State government few months ago is yet to be approved by the government.
Speaking to City Herald, Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Dr K N Vijayaprakash said the MCC requires an Enforcement Cell on the lines of BBMP Enforcement Task Force.
The MCC Council had approved a proposal to constitute Enforcement Cell comprising police personnel, in its meeting on October 28, 2010.
The Enforcement Cell would deal with the cases of building bylaws, violations, encroachment, parking issues and so on. In fact, Minister for Urban Development Suresh Kumar at a review meeting on June 9, 2010 had asked the civic body to constitute an Enforcement Cell.
The Enforcement Cell would deal with issues relating to eviction under 31 of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Rules 1977.
In fact, to deal with any violation in building norms, Mangalore City Corporation has set up a temporary enforcement cell comprising of personnel from the engineering, health and town planning sections of the civic body. The onus will be on the town planning section to ensure that norms are followed in their true letter and spirit. As of now, the officials would be held accountable for any violations of building norms that are noticed.
The Commissioner has already urged the officials to keep tabs on construction of a building at its various stages and check if it is being constructed in accordance with the sanctioned plan or not.
The Commissioner said the proposal of the City Corporation for the setting up of Enforcement Cell is in tune with the BBMP Task Force to deal with the violations including dumping of debris, encroachment of parking area.
“We have asked for atleast 20 personnel for the Cell including that of Sub Inspector, Head Constables, Armed Constables. Once approved, the Cell would help the MCC in dealing with unauthorised buildings.”
Debris are being dumped on the roadside despite the warning against it by the MCC, district administration. District-in-Charge Minister Krishna Palemar had announced a reward of Rs 1,000 for giving information on persons dumping wastes on the roadside.
Though the illegal hoarding are being removed by the MCC, it continues to thrive, as some of the agents who take license for 10 horadings install more than 10 hoardings. In such cases of violation, the Enforcement Cell is the need of the hour for the MCC. A decade ago, the MCC did send such a proposal twice, but the government had turned it down citing shortage of funds, said a source in the Corporation.