The Pioneer 18.11.2010
MCD late in restarting anti-encroachment drivePNS | Dehradun
The authorities have failed to re-start the anti-encroachment drive, which was started by the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) prior to the Diwali and postponed due to opposition of shopkeepers.
However, during the last couple of days, the MCD had removed unauthorised advertisement hoardings, illegal banners and displays of the city.
It will be recalled that the MCD alongwith the Dehradun police had started a campaign to rid the commercial areas around Paltan Bazaar of encroachment by shopkeepers. However, as this campaign was started prior to Diwali, which was a peak time for the traders and they had strongly opposed the drive along with the support of politicians.
Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli had then agreed to the demands of the shopkeepers and announced that a meeting of all the concerned bodies would be held on November 11 in the city Kotwali in order to chalk out future plan for facilitating the removal of roadside encroachments by shopkeepers in the city.
However, this meeting was not held on the fixed date is now likely to be held in future if influential politicians don’t scuttle the initiative.
It is pertinent to mention that most of the anti-encroachments undertaken by the MCD and police in commercial areas have been hampered and deferred due to the interference of influential politicians with commercial interest.
The MCD had initiated drives to remove encroachments and to check food adulteration about a week prior to the Diwali.
However, this meeting has not been held so far. On condition of anonymity official sources state that political interference is preventing the MCD and other bodies involved from ensuring the effective execution of anti-encroachment drive even though the roadside encroachments in commercial areas are causing disruption in traffic and other civic facilitation.
However, the MCD has been able to undertaken its campaign against illegal advertisement hoardings with officials removing hundreds of illegal banners and hoardings since the start of this week.
