The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has finally resolved to intervene and address the problems caused by overgrown weeds in vacant plots under its limits.
With growing complaints from residents about vacant plots turning into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, snakes, insects, and weeds, the MCC is mulling over using a portion of tax collected from the owners for taking up a synchronised drive across its limits for ‘one-time’ clean up of plots. Besides causing nuisance, the unkempt vacant plots were posing a health hazard for the residents.
MCC Commissioner K.H. Jagadish told The Hindu that 50 paise for one square feet of land was collected from the owners of vacant plots. The rate remains the same for any dimension of site. “I have asked the revenue officials to come up with details on the extent of cess collected from the owners so that the MCC could take a call on the cleaning up drive,” he replied.
If done, this is going to be the first ever drive by the MCC of clearing weeds from private lands.
“The problem of overgrown weeds on vacant plots and the inconvenience caused to neighbours was not confined to Mysuru city alone. The problem exists in other cities too. In case of Mysuru, we want to set an example by taking one-time cleaning of the vacant plots so that the owners take up periodic cleaning thereafter on their own,” the Commissioner said.
Mr. Jagadish admitted about the nuisance caused by the growth of tall weeds in vacant plots to the neighbours and MCC’s helplessness to crack down on the erring owners. Though the problem was more in layouts under the control of Mysuru Urban Development Authority, there also plots under our limits which too have been posing problems.
The Commissioner said the MCC has been clearing weeds and other plants grown on roadsides and also on the premises of some public places to ensure the beauty of the city. “But we cannot go on cleaning up the private plots as it was the responsibility of the owners and not of the MCC.”
Nevertheless, he said the MCC was unable to issue notices to the owners of vacant plots since some properties were under dispute and the MCC’s notices may be used as a document by the claimants to pursue their case. “For this reason, we are not issuing notices,” he said.