MCC demolishes structures to recover relinquished land from builders

Mangaluru, Jul 28: After successful raids against massage parlours and gambling centres across the city, Mayor Kavitha Sanil on Friday conducted a surprise dive to clear parking encroachments. This time the Mayor targeted two under construction buildings in the heart of the city.

Team of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) officials led by the Mayor demolished structures, cleared construction materials and took possession of a large piece of the land in the heart of the city, which building owners had relinquished to MCC.

A cooperative society had agreed to relinquish a large piece of land on Mission Street while applying for a building licence in 2012. However, the owners have failed to surrender about 20 ft wide land in front of their under construction building even after four years. Meanwhile, another under construction building on the same road too has not adhered to the conditions with regard to surrendering of relinquished land to MCC.

Following this, the Mayor, MCC officials and workers arrived with an earth mover machine and truck to clear materials and take possession of the relinquished land. The team successfully demolished walls, cleared construction materials and debris dumped on the relinquished land. Mayor told reporters that the MCC has plans to utilize the land for development purpose.

"We realized while conducting drives against parking encroachments that many buildings have not adhered conditions with regard to relinquishing of land.

Builders agree while applying for licence that they would surrendered the relinquished land during the completion of building. I have made ruling during last council meeting that builders should surrender the land soon after it is relinquished. These builders are not surrendering the land and delaying the construction making it difficult for public. If the land is cleared, it will be useful for pedestrians on the road," the Mayor said.

She said that in all cases, the relinquished land becomes the property of MCC with immediate effect. "The builders should surrender relinquished land immediately so that we will be able to use it for development. However, they refuse to surrender the land and promise that it will be handed over during the completion.

If they delay the construction, the relinquished land also will remain unitilised and as a result people will suffer. Hence, we have conducted a drive to clear such land. I have made it clear in the council meet that those who relinquish land should surrender the same immediately when they get building licence. Drainage will be constructed on the land that we took possession today," Kavitha said.