The Times of India             22.10.2013

Nagpur Municipal Corporation, traffic police to remove encroachments

NAGPUR: Following a continuous traffic awareness drive by Youth Brigade members of I Lead India, a TOI initiative, at Variety Square and Rani Jhansi Square, the city traffic police headed by deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Chandrashekhar Mina agreed to provide police assistance to Nagpur Municipal Corporation for carrying out anti-encroachment drive.

Last week municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane, who visited the chaotic places twice, had assured YB members that pavements here would be free from encroachments. On Monday, Wardhane had an interaction with the DCP. Both the senior officials told TOI, soon the NMC would carry-out a drive to remove encroachments with full support of police.

"I have offered to provide devoted police personnel for removing encroachments not only from these two spots but across the city," Mina told TOI. He explained it was the duty of NMC to remove encroachments and they had to take initiative for the purpose. Wardhane too assured that pavements would be free from encroachments. Both the officials, however, pointed out that citizens, especially pedestrians, should use pavements in commercial places of the city. Due to their ignorant attitude, most pavements in commercial areas were encroached upon by vendors.

The worst hit is the Sitabuldi market which is forever overflowing with shoppers. Here, the anti-encroachment squad of NMC had quite often cleared encroachments. However, the encroachers were back the same day or at the most the next day. "It's difficult to even walk on Sitabuldi main road, especially on weekends. Shopkeepers showcase their wares even outside their shops. They should desist from encroaching upon the area outside their shops," said shoppers.

"Unless the NMC action is quick and with a strict warning, things will remain the same," was the general opinion of the motorists driving through Sitabuldi. Residents expressed concern over functioning of Dhantoli Zone's and NMC's special anti-encroachment squads. "One gets the feeling that the vendors are functioning under the patronage of NMC's anti-encroachment squads. They have plans to construct permanent shops and live happily ever after," said shoppers.

"If encroachments are back that only reflects the inefficiency of administration. Had it cracked the whip, this would never have happened," said motorists. Civic chief, however, assured that now onwards NMC would launch a sustained drive against encroachers.