HC orders removal of encroachments near PGI

LUCKNOW:The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has directed the authorities concerned, including the Lucknow district magistrate, to take appropriate steps for the removal of encroachment in the area near the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) here and to ensure the smooth movement of traffic there.

A division bench of justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan passed the order on a public interest litigation ( PIL ) petition raising the issue of encroachment on the road side in front of the PGI.

The court directed the authorities concerned such as the Lucknow Development Authority ( LDA ), the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and the district authorities, along with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI ), to take appropriate steps for removal of encroachment in the area and ensure smooth movement of traffic.

The court asked them to ensure that ambulances and other vehicles going in and out of SGPGI did not face any obstacles.

The court further directed the authorities concerned to make a joint survey of the area and constitute a team to supervise the removal of illegal encroachment.

The Lucknow district magistrate shall constitute a team in this regard and mention the steps in an affidavit on the next date, it said. The court directed to list this case after four weeks.

MANOJ KUMAR SINGH