Delhi: Day after Shaheen Bagh stir, anti-encroachment drive continues
BJP-led municipal corporations on Tuesday carried out anti-encroachment drives in their respective areas, including New Friends Colony, Vasant Kunj, Raghubir Nagar and Mangolpuri, as officials reached the spot with bulldozers along with police personnel and removed illegal temporary structures.The antiencroachment drives in NFC and other areas come a day after the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) had to return without executing a similar action in Shaheen Bagh on Monday following protests by locals and political leaders.
According to SDMC officials, a road stretch measuring two kilometers was freed from encroachment during the drive at New Friends Colony.
In addition to this, 12 sheds were removed while iron net (jali) works in front of a number of residences were also demolished in the area, they said.
SDMC officials said antiencroachment drives will continue on Wednesday in Meharchand Market near Lodhi Colony, in areas around JLN Metro station, Arjangarh Metro Station and others.
After SDMC’s drive at New Friends Colony, Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Okhla Amanatullah Khan, who had opposed the anti-encroachment action at Shaheen Bagh, on Tuesday lodged a complaint against “certain municipal officials” for uprooting trees during the drive.
“Uprooting trees at the behest of Mukesh Suryan (SDMC Mayor) and Adesh Gupta (Delhi BJP chief) between Zakir Nagar dhalaan and New Friends Colony of Okhla assembly constituency by MCD without informing PWD is unconstitutional and illegal. Today I have lodged a complaint in NFC police station to register FIR against irresponsible people of MCD,” Khan said in a tweet in Hindi.
SDMC’s Central Zone Chairman Rajpal Singh said the anti-encroachment drive was carried out in areas around New Friends Colony to remove “rampant encroachment”.
“Our enforcement teams along with adequate police force and bulldozers removed illegally setup kiosks, temporary structures, shanties and shops near Baudha Dharma Temple, Gurudwara Road and nearby areas in New Friends Colony. “Illegally constructed boundary walls on government land were also demolished. Our drive against encroachment will continue,” Singh said.
New Friends Colony falls under the central zone of the SDMC. During SDMC’s drive in Shaheen Bagh, people in large numbers had protested against the action.