Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority has begun its crackdown on unauthorised layouts.
Unauthorised layouts are not only defeating the objective of VUDA's Master Plan but gullible people are falling prey by buying plots in such layouts.
Following specific instructions by VUDA Vice-Chairman Kona Sasidhar, for field-level inspection, Chief Urban Planner R.J.Vidyullata and other officials of the Planning wing have begun to act on unauthorised layouts in Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region (VMR) comprising the urban development authority's jurisdiction.
Inspecting at zone and district-level, the teams have identified unauthorised layouts in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts.
In Vizianagaram district alone, so far 42 layouts have been identified.
Among them are, Vijayachaitanyanagar Layout at Balighattam in Kottavalasa mandal, SPN Infra and Alekhya Township at Musiram and a layout at Karakavalasa in Gantyada mandal developed by Naidu and Mowli. Stones demarcating the boundaries were removed and the owners of the layouts issued notices.
The latest phase of action comes in the wake of some persons resorting to unauthorised layouts and constructions in spite of action in the past.
To curb it, Mr. Sasidhar has drawn up an action plan and made local bodies part of the exercise by imparting training to the staff of local bodies on implementing VUDA rules and Master Plan regulations and play their role in planned development.
The Vice-Chairman asked gram panchayats to inform VUDA about unauthorised layouts and also not to allow construction in such layouts.
