Lalbazar has instructed all traffic guards that there will be no excavation work on roads and footpaths in the city till October 31, except for an emergency.
In a communique sent over WhatsApp by the office of the deputy commissioner, traffic, all traffic officers down the ranks have been instructed to pass on the information to representatives of all agencies, including the KMC, PWD, CMDA and utilities like the CESC, BSNL and the Greater Kolkata Gas Supply Corporation.
“Beginning Thursday we have stopped giving permission for any digging activity either on roads or on footpaths. Over the next two days, we will wrap up meeting all the officials from different agencies to convey the message to them,” said a police officer.
Lalbazar’s instruction is based on a recent circular issued by the special municipal commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).
The order issued by Tapas Chowdhury, special municipal commissioner, specifies some of the emergency situations where permission can be granted, including repairing of lines for water and gas after a leak, collapse of the sewer network in a region, power failure because of a cable fault and the ongoing time-bound projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
“In case of any extreme emergency or essential work, separate approval should be obtained from the municipal authority prior to disturbing any carriageway or footpath during the embargo period,” the circular states.
The circular specifies the reason — “considering the monsoon and Puja festival...”.
A section of civic officials is not convinced. They said the blanket ban spanning a little over four months is primarily aimed at bringing down capital outflow from the cash-strapped Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
“Usually such a sweeping embargo would remain in effect from end-June till mid-September because of the rainy season,” said a senior KMC official. “This time the ban is for a longer period.”
While directing officers to abide by the new circular, senior officers in Lalbazar said they were not sure whether the KMC would make an exception for road repairs ahead of the Puja, which begins on October 1 this year.
Every year ahead of the festival the police draw up a list of roads that need repairs under their respective jurisdictions and send it to the agencies concerned.