The New Town authorities started a survey to identify places where construction materials are stacked up or waste is dumped blocking pavements, bicycle lanes or portions of roads last week.
According to New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) regulations, no materials should be stacked on the roads, service roads or pavements and the builders must not dump construction waste into sewage or drainage channels.
An NKDA official said they were sending teams to make a list of those places where such construction materials, waste or slurry was dumped.
“We have started dispatching teams to find and locate the areas where pavements for roads are being blocked by dumping construction waste or stacking up building materials. Once the survey is complete we will start issuing notices to the builders or contractors responsible,” said the official.
Construction materials like sand, cement, stone chips and bricks as well as waste dumped along the roads in New Town are a common sight. They not only create problems for the pedestrians and motorists but also block gully-pits and drainage channels.
Several parts of New Town went underwater when the city was lashed by heavy showers in September last year. In some areas, the water couldn’t be drained out for at least a week.
To prevent a re-run, the NKDA has cleaned up the rainwater drainage channels and pits.
Another NKDA official said a fine of Rs 50,000 would be imposed on those who don’t comply with the guidelines for stacking of construction materials and dumping of waste onto roads and drains.
Several residents of New Town across all the three action areas said despite the law, builders rarely abided by it.
“In nearly every block you will see everything ranging from bricks to stone chips and even bamboo poles lying haphazardly on walkways and even roads,” said Jeetender Singh, a resident of New Town Elita Vista Housing Complex.
NKDA chairman Debashis Sen said strict action would be taken against those builders and contractors who did not abide by the rules.
“We will give them a time period to remove the materials. If they don’t, we will penalise them,” Sen said.