The Times of India       23.09.2014 

Civic body gears up to intensify anti-encroachment drive across Aurangabad

AURANGABAD: The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), which has been razing encroachments in the city for the past few days, is all set to intensify its action from Tuesday.

Shivaji Zanzan, in-charge of the anti-encroachment department in the AMC, said the civic body would take action against illegal occupants in the Beed Bypass area in the next two-three days. "It will be a major action against those occupying public utility lands for long. Similar aggressive drive will be carried out in other parts of the city very soon," he said while talking to TOI on Monday.

Zanazan also said market places, major roads and public places would be made free of encroachments.

On Saturday, the municipal body removed illegal occupants form Jadhavwadi, State Bank Colony and Connaught Place in the city. Zanzan said the eviction drive passed off smoothly. "There was slight resistance from the occupants but overall it was peaceful," he said.

In Jadhavwadi, the authorities demolished roadside shops and clear the road. "Local residents have been complaining about it for quite some time. Most of the structures were built on the encroached land," he said.

In the State Bank Colony area, the AMC staff removed temporary shops and those occupying public utility land. "A considerable portion of the road was encroached by the shopkeepers and vendors. The entire stretch was freed from the clutches of the vendors," Zanzan said.

In Connaught Place, the owner of one of the restaurants had expanded his set up illegally. The anti- encroachment staff demolished the expanded portion.

The civic body had demolished illegal extensions of restaurants and eateries in other parts of the city in the last three-four days. Residents had been complaining that the restaurants had made expansions and alterations.