VMC's force to curb violations has no base

Vijayawada: A special task force has been set up exclusively for taking action against the illegal structures under the purview of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation but hundreds of violations and complaints are pending with the local body and there is no change in the situation.

The task force has no office to function from on the VMC premises and complainants are not in a position to directly bring their grouse to the notice of the task force. Besides, the town planning department's negligent attitude is encouraging the unauthorised constructions and violations.

 According to official sources,  there are a huge number of illegal structures and violations in the city. Most of the violations have been after the local body approved the plans.

“This basically means that the there is a huge difference between the approved plans and the completed structures. The attitude of the field level staff of the VMC is the prime reason for the situation. It was only a matter of time that charges of corruption were made against them. Earlier, the VMC’s standing council, led by mayor Koneru Sridhar also found fault with the authorities,” the source said.

However, this appears to have made no difference to the town-planning department staff.

After taking into consideration the illegal structures and negligent attitude of the municipal corporation, the task force was set up by the municipal administration department.

Interestingly, very few citizens are even aware of the existence of the task force, since it has not been publicised and it has no office to function from.

The task force is headed by a special officer who has a handpicked team. A VMC official of town planning department said that the task force team works without office.

D. Sudharsana Rao, who retired as head of the department of Sarada College said that he met several officials and complained against the encroachment and illegal construction by his neighbour in Marutinagar. He said that a survey by the VMC staff acknowledged the encroachment and illegal construction but no action has been taken so far.

Mr Rao said that he wanted to meet the task force team but he could not even locate them. “There is no office and no information in the VMC office premises. Does this mean that I will get justice only if I manage to meet the CM?” he asked.