Remove encroachments from roads by December 7: HC

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday directed the UT SSP (traffic) and the municipal corporation to remove encroachments on roads from outside houses and institutions to make space for parking by the next date of hearing on December 7. While stressing that expenses for repair of encroached roads be incurred from encroachers, the HC directed the SSP, MC and estate office to give the action taken report within a week. During the resumed hearing of the case on traffic and parking, Justice Amol Rattan Singh observed that City Beautiful was being run without the application of mind. He said the city was supposedly the planned and smart city of India. The high court also observed that civic sense was expected to be there in citizens while they were on road, but if it wasn't, then they should be challaned for violations as "without being tough, the system does not work".

Amicus curiae in case Reeta Kohli said after the previous order, the Chandigarh police were towing away vehicles, but that was not the solution, as it was creating problem in residential areas. It was also stated that front lawns in residential areas were eating up roads. The HC observed that roads have been encroached upon for "greening purposes" (people have made gardens on them), but it results in lack of space, which leads to parking on roads, cycle tracks and pedestrian ways. The court said the front lawns be demolished. It directed MC, estate office and the SSP (traffic) that all encroachments be broken down and repair expenses be taken from encroachers. The HC directed same action for institutional buildings.

Parking policy

The HC sought the existing policy on parking and asked why was it difficult to put it on record. To this, the administration replied that there was just draft policy as of now and it was not yet notified. The HC then observed that as there was no comprehensive policy for parking, "this city is going on without application of mind." The HC directed the authorities to put the existing policy on record by the next date of hearing.