Indian Express 02.12.2010
MC pulls down encroachment by Mall Road restaurant
Express News Service Tags : Shimla Municipal Corporation, Mall Road Posted: Thu Dec 02 2010, 03:45 hrs
Shimla: In an early morning action on Wednesday, the Shimla Municipal Corporation pulled down fresh encroachments made by a leading restaurant on the Mall Road and cleared an old drain that had been filled up to extend the business premises. The illegal extensions had reportedly come up during late evening hours, and without permission from the Municipal Corporation.This was, perhaps, the first ever public action, which Municipal Commissioner A N Sharma initiated after media reports about encroachments by businessmen taking a toll on the Mall Road, a heritage zone. A few alert citizens had reportedly made calls to the commissioner calling for intervention.
“We received reports last night about Nalini restaurant, which has undertaken renovations, having encroached the Mall Road by raising high railings. The commissioner set up a team that went to the spot, along with the police, and razed the structures,” said MC Field Engineer Subash Chander.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who was at The Ridge for a function, praised the commissioner for his action and instructed him to “deal with such encroachments firmly, and without fear”. Dhumal also inquired about complaints of serious violations of building norms committed by a leading Shimla jeweller. “I have summoned the file. There is already an inquiry going on against him,” said the commissioner.
He later told the media that apart from the Nalini owner a large number shopkeepers and traders on the Mall Road had covered the decades-old drain. “The drive will continue,” he said.
