The Times of India                        05.03.2013

Corpn removes encroachments to ensure free passage for heavy vehicles

COIMBATORE: City municipal
corporation employees removed encroachments alongside the service road
near Walankulam bridge near Ukkadam on Monday. Corporation officials
and a few residents said the action was being initiated based on a
petition filed by residents of the adjoining Majeed Colony to ensure
free passageway for heavy vehicles, especially water tankers, since the
locality reels under water shortage. The entire stretch of road is piled
with old pieces of wood and timber apart from two temporary shacks
which will be removed to facilitate the widening of the concrete
stretch.

“We have submitted a petition to the corporation to
widen the road. It is very difficult for residents, especially when
water tankers come here. If these encroachments and junk are removed,
the passageway can be easily widened,” said P Kabir, a resident of
Majeed Colony.

More than 200 families reside in Majeed Colony
which is an old residential locality alongside the Ukkadam bypass. After
the construction of the bridge, the remaining space along the beam
forming a service road has limited width for easy passage of vehicles.
The residents claimed that essential services like drinking water supply
tankers had difficulty in manoeuvring through the stretch and as a
result majority of the residents had to walk up to the main road with
water pots to collect water.

“Also, when the water tankers
come, it is impossible for other vehicles to enter or exit the locality.
It is a great inconvenience for residents here,” said M Salim, another
resident of Majeed Colony.

R Ehambaram, municipal councillor
for ward no 74, was also present when corporation workers brought an
earth remover to tear down the two temporary shacks erected by S Razzak
(63), a local small time dealer
of old timber and broken wood pieces. Two religious places of worship
also fall on the stretch which corporation officials say will be
retained.

“The entire stretch is being cleaned up to facilitate the smooth movement of heavy vehicles,” said Ehambaram.

However Razaak claimed that he has been running his old timber business
from the area for over 20 years and he is entirely dependent on the
business to support his family.