The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Drive against footpath encroachment launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 15, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Drive against footpath encroachment launched

Staff Correspondent

Illegal structures on Double Road, Siddiquia Mohalla cleared

UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES: Corporation personnel clearing encroachments on the footpath of Vishwamanava Double Road in Mysore on Thursday. — Photo: M A Sriram

MYSORE: The Mysore City Corporation has launched a drive to clear all encroachments on footpaths by house-owners in various residential areas.

Amid protests by house-owners, the corporation personnel demolished parapets, iron railings and other structures that had been illegally put up on the footpath of Vishwamanava Double Road, Siddiquia Mohalla and other parts of the city on Thursday.

A 25-member team launched the drive at the entrance to Vishwamanava Double Road from the Kukkarahalli Lake side in the morning.

The corporation Commissioner, A.B. Ibrahim, supervised the drive carried out under tight security.

Despite objections by residents, the corporation staff pulled down all illegal structures on the footpath.

They were informed that they had failed to heed the warning issued by the corporation in newspapers as well as on the public address system to clear the encroachments by July 8.

The corporation officials had made it clear that all encroachments will be cleared if the residents fail to pay heed to the warning.

While the corporation's warning was published in newspapers on July 5, announcements on a public address system were made on Saturday and Sunday last. Some residents of Vishwamanava Double Road alleged that the corporation authorities had taken bribe from them when the construction was in progress and allowed them to continue. They said: "Why are they objecting now? Besides, how can the corporation initiate action at such a short notice?"

A few residents, who claimed they were not aware of the corporation's warning, said they were entitled to individual notice instead of public notice. The corporation staff came across several instances of shocking encroachment on footpath during the drive.

While one of the houses had its staircase and the main support pillar on the footpath, another house had its foundation extended to about 15 ft on the footpath.

"A couple of houses among them had been marked for demolition while some may be left alone on humanitarian consideration", the officials said. In another instance, the staff pulled down a shed on the footpath made of iron grills.

"We warned them well in advance. They failed to pay heed to the warning. Now, the corporation is forced to do its job in the larger interests of the public," Mr. Ibrahim said.

Meanwhile, the corporation personnel cleared the footpath at Siddiquia Mohalla of lawns and ornamental plants planted by house-owners.

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