DC orders Officials to clear Upcoming Shops near Kadri Park

DC orders Officials to clear Upcoming Shops near Kadri Park

What goes up illegally, should come down legally! DC AB Ibrahim has ordered to remove all the buildings/shops that have been half way constructed near the entrance of Musical Fountain Park opposite to Kadri Park immediately irrespective of whether those constructions had been approved by any authority.

Mangaluru: As they “what goes up illegally must come down legally” as per the law, Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim after receiving complaints from activists visited the spot where the Musical Fountain Park, opposite to Kadri Park is coming up shortly. Noticing all the buildings/shops that have been constructed (half done) he has directed the officials of the Horticulture Department to remove all those already half constructed buildings/shops, and restrict the activities only for the Park and open space defined purpose. No matter what, even if these buildings were authorized by certain officials, DC had said they need to be removed immediately, with no questions asked. It is learnt that construction of any structures/buildings is a violation as per the Karnataka Park, Play Fields and Open Spaces (Preservation and Regulation) Act, 1985, and also directives by the High Court of Karnataka.

DC Ibrahim was also not happy with the felling of 17 trees to make way for the Musical Fountain Park, by the contractor without prior permission from the concerned department. He has asked the authorities to submit a report on this tree felling within a couple of days. Also noticing the garbage dumped by the roadside illegal shops, and also these upcoming buildings which will create inconvenience for vehicle movement, the DC has directed the concerned authorities to enforce his orders immediately and file a compliance report by Monday, 18 April 2016. DC has also warned that if department officials don’t act quick on his said orders, cases will be booked against those concerned officials as per Parks Act.

But in the meantime, while welcoming the direction of Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim to the Horticulture Department to clear all buildings from the proposed Musical Fountain Park at Kadri, environmental activists regretted that the administration had only acted a month after the trees were felled. Even though when environmental activists had staged a protest on March 14 about the felling of 17 trees, no one took any action then. Also, the activists had raised voice against the construction of shops near the Park, but no one cared about their complaints. But it is learnt that the Forest Department had taken note of the unauthorized felling of trees and had registered a case against the contractor of the project under Section 33 (2) V of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963.

But according to one activist Dinesh Pai who was getting ready to approach the local court for violations of Karnataka Park, Play-Fields and Open Spaces (Preservation and Regulation) Act 1985 by Mangaluru Urban Development Authority, which is executing the musical fountain work, has commented saying that the threat of legal proceedings might have made the Deputy Commissioner to take note of the violations and take actions now. It is also learnt that Leader of the Opposition in the Mangaluru City Corporation, Roopa D. Bangera too had raised her voice recently against the construction of stalls inside the Musical Fountain Park. Let’s keep our fingers crossed until we see what will be the outcome of DCs order to the concerned authorities.