Illegal structures rise as poll keeps Thiruvananthapuram corporation busy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Illegal constructions are fast progressing in various parts of the city as the functioning of the town planning wing under the City Corporation has come to a halt because of the local polls.

The civic body is receiving plenty of complaints regarding illegal constructions happening in various parts of the city.

All 70 overseers of the town planning wing have been deployed for election duty.

The Kerala Building Desig-ners Organisation (KBDO) has given a complaint to the Election Commission seeking immediate intervention to prevent unauthorised constructions happening in the city.

A top official of the town planning wing said that there were around 645 polling booths in the state capital and it was the responsibility of the overseers to check and input facilities at polling booths and this was keeping them very busy.

“Squads are not active and officials are unable to discharge their duties because of the upcoming polls. All the overseers are busy with poll work and they are hardly getting time to attend to complaints. However, we are trying to do the best using our other resources,” said the official.

President of Kerala Buildi-ng Designers Organisation Kowdiar Harikumar said that complaints regarding illegal constructions were piling up and authorities were not ready to take action.

“Illegal constructions are happening in various parts of the city. The other day, a written complaint on illegal construction at Attukal was submitted. But no action was taken claiming that the officials were on poll duty. This construction is happening in the green belt,” said Mr Harikumar.

He said that the association had raised the issue before the State Election Commission. “We hope that the Commission takes necessary action soon,” he added.