Take action against illegal buildings: Commissioner
Pics by Spoorthy Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network

Mangalore: Jun 23, DHNS: Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Dr Vijayaprakash directed Town Planning Officers to take strict action against the illegal buildings which have already come up and are under construction in the City. 

Speaking at the MCC monthly meeting here on Tuesday, he said the illegal buildings should not come up in the city. The MCC has opened Enforcement Cell. The engineers, Town Planning Officers and Revenue department officials should work jointly to check the illegal buildings in the City.

Corporator Mohan Padil said that an illegal building has come up in Padil.

The building owner has closed the drain behind the building and had built a shed over the drain. Inspite of bringing the matter to the notice of Town Planning Officer, no action has been taken against the building owner so far. Supporting his views, Corporator Sudheer Shetty said several drains in the MCC limits have been filled, thus blocking the free flow of rain water and resulting in artificial floods during monsoon.

Mayor directed the officials to clear all the drains in the City Corporation limits for the easy flow of rain water.

Corporator Bhasker said TPO should provide details on illegal structures in the City Corporation limits in the next meeting. Corporator Jayanthi, Sudheer, Mariamma Thomas said all the water tanks in the City Corporation limits must be given security. Assistant Executive Engineer said fencing will be done around all the water tanks in the City Corporation limits. An estimate for the same will be prepared within a month.

Corporator Naveen D’Souza said that it is better to deploy Home Guards personnel to give security to the water tanks. Replying to it, Commissioner said the MCC will contact Home Guards to provide security to the main installations of the City Corporation.

Water leakage

Corporator James D’Souza said owing to the leakage in pipeline, 30 to 40 per cent of water is getting wasted in the City. Inspite of bringing the matter to the notice of engineers, no action has been initiated to check the wastage of water.

To which Executive Engineer Rajashekar said that with the ADB pipelines, water supply has increased. As the old pipelines have become old and torn out and the water starts leaking, there is a need to install separate water distribution lines beside the concrete roads.

Door numbers

Corporators Naveen, Mariamma Thomas, Shashidhar Hegde raised objection to Minister for Urban Development and Law Suresh Kumar’s statement that no door numbers should be issued in the City Corporation limits. They said “Section 112 (c) clearly states that door number should be issued after paying the penalty for the illegal buildings. Nobody can overrule the Act. The Council had taken a decision to issue door numbers, which nobody can change.”

Commissioner said that there was some confusion related to the issuing of door numbers to the illegal buildings. Hence, Minister has stated that there is a need for policy decision as it is applicable to all the Corporations in the State. Minister has even sought a detailed report from MCC, which will be sent immediately.

The Counil okayed the purchase of Innova car for Mayor. The proposal will be sent to the government for approval.

Malaria control

Malaria Control Cell Officer has prepared an action plan of Rs 12,67,000 for Malaria control programmes for three months. Commissioner Dr Vijayaprakash said that the money will be utilised for three months to undertake various activities to control Malaria in the City.

He said “A doctor has been appointed to the Malaria Control Cell who has prepared the action plan to improve the existing infrastructure in the Cell. Money will be utilised for paying salary to 5 additional staff, travel allowance for 18 personnel, vector control programmes, training and capacity building, IEC programmes, printing of 10,000 booklets, 25 hoardings to create an awareness, sensitisation of physicians, printing of handbills, scrolling on TV, advertisements on radio. The inspection at construction sites and releasing of guppy fish will be a continuous programme,” he added.

‘Allegation against Mayor’s son’

Opposition Leader in Council Ashok raised the issue of alleged involvement of Mayor’s son in the illegal storing of diesel as aired in a TV channel. However, Mayor said that the allegations are far from truth.