The Hindu 02.03.2013
Anti-encroachment drive gains momentum
The Chennai Corporation has intensified its encroachments removal drive in the city.
After removing around 45 encroachments on Thursday, zonal officials have started compiling a list of all bunk shops on footpaths and roads for yet another round of encroachments removal in the near future.
On Wednesday, 10 bunk shops on Montieth Road and 35 shops in Vadapalani were among the encroachments removed. A Corporation official said the civic body had received a number of complaints from people about the presence of eateries and bunk shops affecting the flow of the traffic on many stretches.
“Last month, when we went to remove encroachments in Vadapalani, shop owners there prevented us from operating the equipment to demolish the shops. We had to retreat. So we had to seek additional police help this time,” said an official who participated in the drive.
After the list of bunk shops in all zones is readied within a few days, the shops that have a court stay will be spared, while all the others will be removed immediately, as the Corporation does not give licences to such shops,” another official said.
The traffic police too have compiled another list of encroachments on many roads and footpaths. Action on these too, is likely soon, the official said.
