Urbanisation: No One is Concerned....

These days, anti-encroachment drives are being operational in the name of developing or beautifying cities across the country. If we look at these drives, the biggest brunt of these drives is being borne by those whose voices are not heard. Basically, these people who are economically deprived and who somehow manage to make a living are coming under the purview of bulldozers or urban encroachment removal squads. Those who have the means are either living fearlessly by getting a Status Quo from the court or those with influence are overlooked. If seen properly, the capable people are being shielded and on contrary openly expressing their anger towards those without resources, who are knowingly or unknowingly working against the law just to earn a livelihood or to hide their heads. They are helpless but a large section of the aware society keeps breaking the rules and laws because it has the means to protect itself. Probably in any constitutional house, the parliament or the legislative assembly law makers did not bother to ask that if the hawkers or micro businessmen are being removed, small houses-homes-shops are being removed, then why is there leniency towards that section which is openly violating the rules.

While on one hand the rules and laws are being violated by the common people, on the other hand the government establishments are also not untouched by it. Even in the facilities being developed by the government in the name of planned development, there is no abidance of all legal provisions. Mostly the places of public use such as parks, community centers and the roads which are being used the most do not follow the law completely and as a result of this, pedestrians, specially abled people, women, senior citizens remain deprived of their use.

Unfortunately, comparatively, the per capita expenditure on the development of urban systems is much more than the per capita expenditure on the development of Rural Areas, but its benefits are also beyond the reach of every person. Provisions have been made for expenditure on various items for the development of cities and special facilities are also built around them. Whether it is educational or medical institute or any other center of excellence, it is established within the urban limits only. Former President Dr. Abdul Kalam in his vision document had suggested for developing facilities similar to cities in rural areas, the logic behind it was that migration will stop, new opportunities will be created with sustainable development, but in planning, priority is still given to the urban area. Many times it is also argued that the contribution of villagers in the gross domestic production is less, but in the past years, indirect taxes are being paid by them due to the increase in their expenditure habits, so if seen from that point of view also, there are no provisions for proportionate development.

Most cities are silent spectators of haphazard, unplanned and chaotic development. Probably, in the city, development and discipline-ignoring rules and laws, have become synonymous to each other. In any budget or income-expenditure statement, there is no item about how much resources were spent in removing illegal construction. Without its statistical assessment and mention, it becomes difficult to fix accountability. It is not that illegal construction or encroachment happens overnight or can be done secretly, then the only person responsible is not the one who breaks the law, the entire department which is given salary allowances to ensure compliance of the law, remains hidden in some deep sleep. Under the protection and supervision of various urban departments, several kilometers of area becomes a victim of illegal construction, residential to commercial use etc., but no one moves from top to bottom. If seen historically also, then hardly any action has been taken against any employee or department responsible for supervisory negligence. If we calculate it directly, then the inconvenience caused besides cost towards the machines, human resources and workers involved in removal of encroachments should be recovered from all the parties violating the law like the developer, supervisor and his superiors. Also, those executives should be relieved of their salary for the relevant period under service defect and their leave should be calculated. Perhaps, if recovery was made in equal value or multiple or if some of them had to lose their jobs, then this could have been stopped. But, the courts also remain silent in taking action against the executives because they are the ones who provide relief from illegal extensions outside their residences in respective area. In many cities, illegal expansion can be seen on the footpaths and roads outside the residences of the Judiciary. The courts also take suo moto cognizance of the traffic jam etc caused by vehicles but they do not look at absence of any kind of space for pedestrians.

Architects and Urban Planners are also an important link in city planning. They also give approval without having foresight for development of residential or commercial areas. If we analyse the approved projects, in most of them the basic requirements are not assessed properly and as a result vehicles, garbage, street vendors, security guards do not find adequate and appropriate space. Councils of Professionals engaged with Urban Planning and Architecture does exist at national and state level but till date they have neither held any town planner or architect guilty nor imposed any ban on practise.It seems that in distorting the cities, everyone is engaged in self-realization and is following the principle that everything is fine or will see when someone raises voice or removes us. To make the cities liveable, a strong social movement is needed which works as a bridge with the government in establishing discipline and takes the responsibility of bringing the culprits to appropriate punishment. Under the movement by the taxpayers, there is a dire need to run an intensive campaign for recovery from the inefficient responsible employees and their supervisors so that they have illustration for the future. Otherwise, the present self-interest will prove to be the destruction of the future. Even now the roads are shrinking, the drains have been blocked, there is no place for small businessmen, pedestrians, along with this, fearless autocratic species is continuously growing everywhere. Discipline cannot be established by relying only on the government. The common man will have to remove the hesitation of being bad to neighbourhood from his mind and be concerned about establishing the system within the rules, otherwise this will continue to disastrous end.