Failure of Municipalities and UDA to curb illegal commercial activity in residential areas

Thursday, 15 October 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

It is disturbing to see an alarming rise in illegal commercial establishments in residential areas. While grocery shops and small food establishments are permissible, there has been a sharp rise in other commercial establishments and full blown businesses which cause disturbances and plague neighbourhoods.

Repair shops and garages for instance blatantly operate in residential neighbourhoods, right in the middle of normal houses, and affect the quality of life in the area. They disturb the peace of a neighbourhood as maintenance is performed on the vehicles every day of the week (even at night!), pollutes the environment with fuels, smoke, oils and loud music, causes congestion in small roads because of its customers and parked vehicles and are a perennial source of stress to residents.

While some of these establishments are illegal, others have been granted permits. It is disheartening to note how law enforcement officials do nothing about these transgressions. While influential neighbourhoods within central Colombo are firmly regulated, the same is not done for other suburbs. Action is not taken unless a complaint is made and often, even when complaints are made, the officials turn a blind eye.

Why are permits for commercial activities in residential areas given so freely? Especially to garages and other establishments which are a disturbance to neighbourhoods? Why do the relevant municipalities, planning authorities and the UDA blatantly ignore this? Why have steps not been taken to remedy this or prevent this?

A person usually comes home to seek refuge from the noise, bustle and stress of the outside world. Neighbourhoods plagued with three-wheeler garages, auto repair shops and loud food establishments are not a refuge. It is time for the relevant authorities to take action.

This must be stopped immediately and officials need to crack down on commercial establishments in residential areas and maintain some semblance of order in neighbourhoods. Other countries take transgressions like this very seriously, why haven’t we?

D. Perera

Colombo