It was noticed for some time that some unscrupulous builders, without bothering about the convenience of residents/neighbors & having no concern for the inner streets, had started deploying heavy duty crawler excavators for digging basements of residential projects even in small plots.
It was seen that these trawlers, which operate on chain type mechanism (Similar to war tanks) were damaging roads, culverts & storm water drain covers.
Earlier the practice was to use JCB excavators, which run on rubber tyres.
In their greed for speeding up the work, some builders started using these trawlers.
Having noticed that some culverts were damaged by such huge machines thereby resulting in to incidents of cars falling in to ditches, SBWS decided to take a tough stand.
On the intervening night of 21st/22nd night of May23, one such machine tried to enter S Block thru gate 1(Near ICICI bank on main Hans Raj Gupta Marg).
It was stopped by our guards at the gate at 12 am at night. The matter was reported by the guards to the President of Society at 6.50 am.
I immediately informed the DCP (Traffic) of our area by sending photos of this trawler & requested him to impound the machine as such huge machines are not allowed on roads.
I also informed the SHO, beat officers of our area & JE, maintenance of MCD, at about 6.57 am to take action & impound this trawler.
Initially for one hour the JE kept insisting that we should inform PWD & lodge an FIR & call the Police.
I finally told him that the driver is trying to enter the inner lanes, which belong to MCD & if any damages occur, he will be responsible.
Very reluctantly he landed up at 8.30 am & called 112 & lodged an FIR.
In the meantime, it was noticed that this trawler did not have registration plate & the driver absconded, leaving the machine behind.
Lot of telephone calls were received from the contractor of the site, builder & the owners requesting to allow the entry.
Allurements were offered. We took a stand & asked them to call a JCB.
I am not aware that what action was finally taken by MCD or Police but the machine was standing on the main road for the next 40 hours & then disappeared.
All RWA’s are requested to take a tough stand on such issues as the damaged roads & culverts would probably never be repaired by contractors or MCD easily.
