With parking lots in commercial complexes again being encroached upon for running businesses, the problem of parking vehicles in the twin cities has worsened in the last two years.
The failure of the municipal corporation to take up the issue and the increasing number of new vehicles has added to the problem. Consequently, motorists have to scramble for parking space and often end up parking on pavements.
In 2005, the issue was taken up for the first time, along with that of illegal structures in the twin cities when the then municipal commissioner P. Manivannan initiated a phase-wise demolition drive to clear encroachments. Mr. Manivannan extended the initiative through a ‘sealing drive’ against commercial buildings not having completion certificates. He succeeded in getting basements of many commercial complexes cleared for parking.
However, after his departure, the laxity of officials resulted in these spaces being encroached upon again, which made Municipal Commissioner K.V. Trilokchandra to initiate a massive drive against such encroachments in 2011. Having served notice to over 260 buildings, Mr. Trilokchandra succeeded in making several building owners clear the encroachments on their own, while the rest were removed through a demolition drive by the municipal corporation.
However, with no strict adherence to building bylaws while issuing completion certificates, several commercial complexes have come up with little space allotted for parking. Discussions to keep a ‘regular squad’ to act against encroachments have not materialised.
During his visit to Hubli in February 2014, Upalokayukta Justice Subhash Adi expressed displeasure over the issue and directed municipal officials to clear encroachments over parking lots within a period of three months. But barring a discussion on the issue in the HDMC council meeting, nothing has be done.
Last month, while initiating a cleanliness drive, Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad Rajendra Cholan and in-charge Municipal Commissioner C.W. Shakeel Ahmad promised to take up an extensive drive. Till date, there have been no signs of it.
