Website Impact! MCC makes Builder remove Construction Materials Blocking Footpath

Website Impact! MCC makes Builder remove Construction Materials Blocking Footpath

Mangaluru : Talk about the power of media, especially Electronic media where we highlight the civic issues and within few hours or few days the concerned authorities who can’t bear the criticism about heir negligence, quickly get into action and rectify the civic issues. In the past Mangalorean.com has highlighted various civic issues through our website, and there has been a tremendous effect with most of the problems being fixed in no time, from rectifying dilapidated roads, open drainage, non-friendly footpaths, dog menace etc etc.

Here is yet another story of website publicity which has brought positive results, and this time action was taken by MCC a little late, but as they say “Better Late Than Never”, after we had highlighted the civic issue in our website- MCC Officials have rectified the problem. No doubt, that the media plays a key role in shaping the growth of the City. Mangalorean.com had published a report ” Caution! Construction Materials Blocking Footpath in front of ‘City Square’ Complex, a Safety Hazard , and the link was forwarded to the concerned authorities and also posted on social media, and in response the concerned officials of MCC took action in solving the problem.

………BEFORE
If you look around the City, in many places where apartments/building constructions is going on, one could notice that construction materials are stored on footpath making hard for pedestrians to walk, and one such example was, where construction materials was blocking the footpath in front of “City Square”, on Lalbagh Road, just a few metres/stone’s throw away from MCC building, which was a safety hazard. But unfortunately even though MCC building was so close to this construction site, the officials there had turned a blind eye towards this situation. Therefore Team Mangalorean took the initiative highlighting the safety hazard posed to the pedestrians using that stretch of the road.

If you had seen the construction materials in front of ‘City Square’, it has taken quite a large space of public vehicles parking, and the building owner had also placed two No Parking Signs, even though the space belongs to tax-paying citizens/public. And also that when the new footpath was constructed, they had skipped this portion in front of the upcoming commercial complex- and continued with the footpath on either sides. Did anyone from MCC or Mangaluru Smart City Ltd had looked into this- or they just allowed it to go by, through hand-in-hand dealing. This stretch of the road which is used by morning walkers/joggers was posing safety hazard, due to the sharp building roads lying on the footpath, close to the road.

No doubt, construction material and debris blocking the footpath and/or making it hazardous to walk on the footpath, is a common sight. Such hazardous encroachment of public space is committed during construction of residential houses, and large commercial complexes. Even after completion of construction, debris is left uncleared, and no municipal authority seems to have the will to take the offenders to task.

………AFTER
And when Team Mangalorean had followed up on this issue, MCC Commissioner Shanady Ajith Kumar Hegde had said, “As per the directives of the High Court, action has to be taken against those dumping construction materials on footpaths. Already MCC has issued paper notification warning action against those dumping construction materials on footpaths. MCC engineer will be directed to take action against those who neglect the warning”. Okay, well said by the MCC Commissioner, and now we have seen the results.

It’s true that, one cause may be ineffective implementation of rules regarding offsets of structures from the property boundary, or perhaps absence of adequate rules. It is desirable that approval for construction should be given only after vetting the plan for storage of construction material. In addition to approval of building plans, there should be requirement for approval of construction plans. There should be also approval of the plan for storage of material in such a way that it does not impede or cause danger to, pedestrians. At least in the case of apartment buildings and large constructions, the builder should provide a covered walkway if material is likely to fall on the footpath from above. But how many builders are adhering by these rules, except for a few reputed builders/promoters.

On a final note, Team Mangalorean express heartfelt thanks to the concerned officials who took the necessary action in removing the construction material which was blocking the footpath.

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