Residents of Green Garden, Rajdhani Colony, Shivapur Colony and Vikas Nagar staged a protest here on Friday against encroachments in their localities.

The residents had noticed that several sheds had come up along the storm drains in their areas in the past few days, and more were being built. When the residents questioned those who had put up the sheds, they were told to mind their business.

The protesters, a majority of whom were women, first gathered at Kariyamma Devi Temple in Green Garden and held a discussion there, before marching towards an area near the temple premises where poles had been fixed to build sheds.

On reaching the spot, some protesters started removing the poles. When those who had built the sheds were found, they were asked if they had permission to do that on municipal corporation land, and they replied in the negative.

After clearing that area, the protesters marched towards another site in Vikas Nagar. There, they staged a demonstration and tried to remove the poles.

When asked, those responsible for putting up the sheds on corporation land clarified that they had not received the permission. They claimed that work on the sheds had been stopped due to elections, and assured protesters that work would continue only after permission was obtained.

Some protesters told presspersons that because of the encroachments around and over the storm drains, residents faced problems during rains as the overflowing drain inundated the localities.

The police convinced protesters that the matter would be taken up with the municipal authorities.

Several residents who led the protest said they would approach the Municipal Commissioner and seek the removal of the encroachments.

The residents subsequently lodged a complaint with the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation.

When contacted, corporation officials clarified that the encroachments would be cleared in two days.