HC asks Amravati civic body why it collects tax but gives citizens potholed roads

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has pulled up the Amravati Municipal Corporation over the condition of the city's roads, asking what kind of administration it is when citizens pay taxes on time and get potholed roads in return. The court asked in plain terms why tax is collected from the public if basic amenities are not provided to them. The issue of the poor roads has now reached the High Court.

Taking serious note of the large potholes on roads in the Camp area of Amravati, a bench of Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Justice Raj Wakode on Friday sought a reply from the corporation. The court also asked why funds are available for other development works in the city but money is not found to repair the roads.

Court unhappy after seeing photographs of potholes

The issue of the poor state of roads in the Camp area was raised in a public interest litigation filed by the organisation Janmanch. The media had also brought up the problem. There are large potholes at many places on the roads. In many spots the roads appear to be lost in potholes. Earlier, commenting on the situation, the court had said, "This injustice is right in front of the temple of justice." The condition of the Camp area roads had thus been brought to the court's notice before as well.

Saying work has begun is not enough

During Friday's hearing, the corporation told the court that work orders had been issued for road repairs and pothole-filling work had begun. However, when photographs related to the work were placed before the court, the bench expressed displeasure. The court was not satisfied with the information given by the corporation. It made clear that merely stating that work has started is not enough. The bench also noted that the corporation will have to state what exactly its concrete plan is to resolve the road problem.

Reply by November 3 or commissioner must appear

The High Court has directed the Amravati Municipal Corporation to file an affidavit with concrete remedial measures by November 3. The corporation cannot merely say that work is under way; it must set out in the affidavit how it will solve the road problem. The court also warned that if the reply is not filed within the stipulated time, the municipal commissioner may be ordered to appear in court in person. Advocates Parvez Mirza and Mrunal Chakravarty argued the case for the petitioner, Janmanch.