VMC to use drones to monitor constructions

Vijayawada: The town planning department of Vijayawada has decided to introduce drones to check construction of illegal structures in the city. The drones would help officials see if the construction is according to the plan or has any deviation. Drones will help officials to avoid depending on ground-level staff, who can collude with the contractors and allow them hoodwink the authorities.

In Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, the approved plan will be in the records of the town planning wing while the actual construction plan will be in the hands of the owner or constructing engineer. 

Some of the building inspectors, who are supposed to check the irregularities, will compromise on receiving some gifts regularly. Some of the corporators, who have to question the building inspectors, also accept packages to remain silent, enabling the owner to get along with his plan, against the rules. 

Already, the ACB sleuths are investigating into the illegal constructoins and and involvement of the VMC officials in it. They inspected every building and taken the measurements, to tally with the approved plans. After this exercise, the sleuths confirmed the irregularities.

To avoid all this, drones would be introduced to allow the authorities take stock of the situation by having a look at the original pictures and videos.

The town planning officials can identify the irregularity and if there is any complaint, the VMC commissioner can take a look at the particular construction. 
Not just constructions, maintenance works like garbage collection, removing drainage blocks, beautification works and others can be monitored using drones. Drones will also help officials in avoiding wasting time in going to the actual construction site or field where the problem is.

The MAUD wing has instructed all the municipal corporations to issue permission letters to the police department for utilisation of drones.