Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
TMC removesillegalbanners, sheds
3-DAY DRIVE 306 encroachments razed from footpaths at prime areas in Thane; civic chief seeks report on work done
THANE : Residents did not find many hawkers on the streets on Wednesday morning as Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) had announced it would start taking action against encroachments and illegal banners.
In the past two months, TMC received many complaints of encroachmentsonfootpathsand roads.
Its three-day special drive to remove illegal posters and banners and encroachments started on Wednesday.
A total of 306 encroachments on footpaths, 38 hawkers, 173 hand carts, 41 stalls, 21 posters, 17 banners and three food stalls were removed by civic officials.
Many residential societies had complained about the encroached footpaths. With most officials busy with election duty, illegal posters and banners kept appearing at every corner in the city. “As per the directives from TMC commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal, if any place is neglected or the drive is not undertaken properly, the assistant municipal commissioner will face action. The drive will end on Friday but if need be it would be extended,” said Sandeep Malvi, public relations officer, TMC.
Jaiswal has also asked officialstogiveadailyreportonhow many structures were razed from the footpaths during the drive. “The drive will also focus on removing the illegal banners, posters and hoardings in the city. A criminal case will be registered against those who have put them up. The executive engineerof eachward will surveythe roads in his area and begin repair and resurfacing work,” said an official from the TMC.
Officials said elections and festivals had kept them busy.
“Ward officers and encroachment department do not follow up on the action. The lackadaisicalattitudeshowstheremightbe a nexus between officials and hawkers. This should be probed,” said Sanjeev Dutta, a citizen activist from Thane.
WardofficersandofficialsofKalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) demolished illegal structures and encroachments on its plot on Wednesday. There is an open KDMC land on Adharwadi Jail Road which had been encroached by 15 illegal structures and 20 sheds. All of these were demolished.
“Initially, there was opposition from the locals. We sought police protection to carry out the demolition work on the plot,” said Govind Bodke, commissioner of KDMC.