Bengaluru: Ignoring a civic notice has resulted in direct action by the civic authorities in Bengaluru’s Jayanagar area, where officials took to the streets to clean a neglected private plot after its owner did not heed the warning.
The incident took place at Jayanagar 9th Block, 25th Main Road, where a plot belonging to Ravindra had remained in an unhygienic condition despite a notice issued by the civic authorities.
A lot of waste, sludge and overgrown vegetation had accumulated in the property; it disrupted living in the area. After complaints and an inspection, the owner was ordered to clean the property within that period.
But the owner did not carry out the cleaning work despite being notified, according to the notice.
Civic authorities take up Cleaning Work.
When the property owner did not respond within the prescribed time period, the civic administration had to do the clearance itself.
The officials and workers entered the premises and started to remove the accumulated waste and vegetation. The move was taken to make sure the neglected site did not bring trouble to residents and pedestrians in the locality.
The site contained more than three loads of sludge and waste, according to the municipal authorities, indicating the extent to which the neglect was severe.
The civic body’s decision to undertake the work also sends a message to property owners that private sites cannot be allowed to become sources of waste accumulation and public inconvenience.
Notice Was Issued Earlier
They said that the property owner had already been served a notice directing the premises to be cleaned.
The notice was issued because the site was in a state of unhygienic conditions, and waste and vegetation were growing on the property. That can be a cause of inconvenience for neighbours, and to a city where sanitation is an issue.
The owner was allowed to respond to the issue himself, but failed to clean the property by the deadline.
As a result, the civic council chose to do the work instead of waiting for any more action from the property owner.
Cleanup Costs and Penalty to be Recovered
The owners will not be allowed to escape financial responsibility for the cleanup, the civic authorities have decided.
The entire cost of cleaning the premises, transporting the collected waste, and the applicable penalty will be recovered from the property owner.
The amount is to be added to the owner's property tax for recovery.
The owner is therefore expected to pay the cost of the civic administration’s work which should have been carried out by the owner after the notice was served on the property.
Action Against Neglected Properties
The incident highlights the civic administration’s approach towards privately owned plots that are left in poor sanitary condition.
Open or neglected sites often become dumping grounds for waste and may develop excessive vegetation, causing problems for neighbouring properties and the public in general. Property owners need to keep these properties clean.
The action in Jayanagar also demonstrates that civic authorities can intervene when owners fail to comply with cleanliness-related notices.
Instead of leaving the site unattended, the authorities finished up the clearance work and decided to recover the associated costs from the property owner.
Message to Property Owners
It will be a warning to the owners of vacant sites all over Bengaluru. Property owners who receive civic notices for cleanliness and maintenance are expected to comply within a certain period.
Failure to do so can result in the civic administration taking the work and recovering the costs, along with penalties where applicable.
For residents, cleaning vacant plots early on in the process of clearing up the area from litter and other unsightly things can assist community hygiene and help to avoid waste and unwanted vegetation in the area in a better way.
Hence, the Jayanagar operation combines a cleanliness drive with enforcement, as the municipality that ignores an official notice may ultimately result in direct action and additional financial liability for the property owner.
