The New Town authorities will fine builders and contractors who stack up construction materials blocking pavements or dump construction waste and slurry on the roads.
Construction materials like sand, cement, stone chips and bricks as well as waste dumped along the roads in New Town are a common sight. They are not only a nuisance for the pedestrians and motorists but also block gully-pits and drainage channels.
Several parts of New Town went under water when the city was lashed by heavy showers in September last year. In some areas the water couldn’t be drained out for at least a week that led to roads caving in.
To prevent a re-run the NKDA (New Town Kolkata Development Authority) is cleaning channels and pits.
According to an NKDA official, their teams have found many drainage channels blocked by deposits of cement, sand and stone chips as well as waste slurries from construction sites.
The NKDA has been carrying out a drive to check the stacking of construction materials as well as dumping waste on the streets and pavements across Action Area I, II and III and “steep fines” will be issued to those builders as well as contractors who don’t comply.
“A fine of Rs 50,000 will be imposed on those who don’t comply with our guidelines for stacking of construction materials and dumping of waste onto roads and drains,” said a senior NKDA official.
According to NKDA regulations, no materials should be stacked on the roads, service roads or pavements and the builders must not dump construction waste into sewage or drainage channels.
NKDA chairman Debashis Sen said the fines were aimed at ensuring pedestrians as well as motorists were not put at risk by such construction materials and waste. “We will start issuing notices to all those builders and promoters who don’t comply with our guidelines. This will not only ensure that the pavements and roads are kept clear but also prevent clogging of sewerage and drainage channels.”
There is a stark difference in what is prescribed in the rulebook and the reality.
In almost every block bricks, stone chips, sand, sacks of cement and marble slabs can be spotted stacked on walkways and pavements blocking them completely.
In several areas both construction materials as well as waste and run-off of slurries spill over onto not only the main roads but lanes inside blocks as well.
In Action Area I’s CE Block a walkway that also has a cycle track is blocked by bamboo poles used to make scaffoldings and heaps of sand.
In Action Area II, building materials stacked in front of two under-construction buildings blocking a sizable portion of the road and an entire footpath.
An NKDA official said teams would be sent to map the areas where construction materials were stacked or waste was dumped on the roadside.
Initially notices will be sent out to the builders and contractors of those buildings where materials are attacked blocking walkways and roads.
“The notices will warn them of the fines and direct them to remove the construction materials. If they don’t comply within the stipulated time period then fines will be issued,” the official said.
Samaresh Das, the chairman of the New Town News and Forum (NTFN), a residents’ body, said construction materials on roads and footpaths was a widespread issue in New Town.
“The authorities need to take strict action ,” said Das.
