‘People should be proactive, adopt pavements in city’

To encourage Advanced Locality Managements (ALMs) and local citizen groups to contribute towards governance, Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner got a committee to draft a manual expanding the responsibilities of ALMs.

To encourage Advanced Locality Managements (ALMs) and local citizen groups to contribute towards governance, Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner got a committee to draft a manual expanding the responsibilities of ALMs.


Excerpts from an interview:

HT Image

In March, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation issued a circular on appointment of citizen groups as caretakers of footpaths in their locality. How can citizens contribute to maintenance of footpaths?
Hawkers seem to be the main problem. Even after eviction, they manage to occupy the same spot within few days. Their number is huge. Support from local residents or shopkeepers’ associations would help in improving the situation. Shopkeepers associations, ALMs or local citizen groups can be appointed as caretakers.

What would be the powers given to citizen groups who come forward to adopt the footpaths as caretakers?
Local shopkeepers’ associations or citizen groups interested in taking care of footpaths can approach their local ward officer. After being appointed as a caretaker, they can deploy security guards to keep the pavements hawker-free. They can also take up beautification of footpaths.

How many associations have come forward to take up the responsibility?
So far, none of them have approached us. We do not want to impose the responsibility on them. The idea is to give a boost to ALMs and to encourage citizen participation.