Corpn to crack down on illegal digging of roads

Coimbatore: The municipal corporation has decided to crack the whip on unauthorized digging of roads and take penal action against violators.
Corporation commissioner M Prathap had announced that the civic body will not tolerate digging up of roads without approval, after councillors raised the issue in the last council meeting.
Even ward-level violations are being closely monitored, a senior corporation official said. “Often, telecommunications companies and government agencies dig up roads. As per rules, a written consent should be obtained from the corporation for such work after paying a fee. The civic body will repair the road after the work, using the money.”
Apart from causing financial losses, unauthorized digging causes hardship for commuters, the official said. “The respective assistant engineer will monitor such violations and take them to the notice of the commissioner for appropriate action. Councillors can also inquire if a work is taken up, to ensure that proper permission has been obtained.”