Kalaburagi: The clear and stern warning by new regional commissioner Harsh Gupta that he meant strict business and will not hesitate to take action against violators of building laws as he did previously in Bidar district, has sent shivers down the spine of owners of illegal apartments and commercial establishments here.
The panic-stricken owners of some apartments and commercial establishments in major areas of the city on Wednesday started clearing the cellars and basements of shops on their own following a surprise visit by Mr Gupta on Tuesday evening. According to sources in Kalaburagi Mahanagar Palike, the owners have started removing the illegal structures in areas such as Jewargi Cross, Main Bus Stand, Aland Chowk, Shaha Bazaar and other places as clear messages were sent out to them that if they did not remove the structures on their own to enable parking of vehicles, they would have to pay penalty to the Mahanagar Palike.
On Tuesday, the Mahanagar Palike authorities cleared the basements of shops in around 70 commercial establishments at Jewargi Cross Road, Central Bus Stand Area extending upto Aland Check post. “However on Wednesday, we stopped the demolition drive issuing clear instructions that the owners should themselves remove the illegal structures within three days, failing which the Mahanagar Palike will take action and the owners will have to pay hefty penalty. This message has started working and already many owners have started removing the illegal structures”, the sources informed.
Meanwhile, the surprise visit by Mr Gupta to some of the areas has sent clear signals that he accords the topmost priority to removing illegal structures. During his visit in a mini bus belonging to the health department to areas such as Gunj Area, Muslim Chowk, Super Market etc, Mr Gupta sternly told the owners that the cellars or basements should be mandatorily reserved for parking of vehicles. During a brief interaction with the owners of these shops and also public, he sought their cooperation saying the drive was being carried out to improve traffic movement in the city.
“The public should boost the morale of officers by supporting the drive in the larger public interest”, he said.
