HUBLI: It appears that the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation has learnt from the mistakes seen in the first two phases of the demolition drive against encroachments on its land.

Although there were not many complaints about the drive, the corporation has taken seriously even the few complaints it received after the second phase of demolition drive in Dharwad that concluded on Sunday.

To clear the doubts in the minds of the shopkeepers, businessmen and petty shop owners, the corporation has decided to identify and demarcate the area encroached upon before taking up the next phase of the drive.

P. Manivannan, Municipal Commissioner, told The Hindu that before taking up the next phase of the drive, the corporation officials would mark the encroached parts of the buildings on the identified roads.

"There has been some confusion in the minds of the people about the actual width of the road and what according to the rules is an encroachment. We want to clear their doubts," he said.

"Our officials and staff will, based on the records, demarcate the corporation land up to which encroachments have to be demolished.

"We will give the shopkeepers and owners of the buildings 10 days after the marking is made to clear it on their own," Mr. Manivannan said.

He said the corporation would appeal to the people to be ready with documents, if they have any, regarding their buildings and about the width of the road and give the necessary information to the corporation officials when they visit their places for demarcating corporation property.

The commissioner said that if the encroachment were not removed within the given time, then the corporation would demolish such parts. In such cases the corporation would not be responsible for the damage.

Corrective measures

Mr. Manivannan also clarified that corrective measures would be taken wherever there were complaints from the public about lapses on part of the corporation officials.

Regarding complaints that some buildings, including the house of the Mayor, were spared though there were violations, he said memos had been issued to the team leaders concerned. And if it is found that some buildings were spared, they will be demolished now.

The commissioner also said that it has come to his notice that the demolition drive was carried out on roads that were not notified by the corporation. Officials responsible for such acts have been given notice, he said.

Appeal

Meanwhile, the commissioner through a press release has appealed to the people to refrain from paying heed to rumours about the next phase of demolition drive in Hubli.

He has said that demarcating corporation property on the identified roads will be done in the last week of this month.

Mr. Manivannan has said that a few mistakes may have been committed during the two-day operation in Dharwad but the corporation is ready to make up losses caused to any individual or association.

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