Kolhapur demolition drive clears roads

KOLAHPUR, April 7: The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation today launched an anti-encroachment drive to clear 13 prominent roads in the city. ...

KOLAHPUR, April 7: The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation today launched an anti-encroachment drive to clear 13 prominent roads in the city. The civic squad today removed encroachments on Bhau Singhjee Road, Mahadwar Road and Shivaji Road. Meanwhile, civic squad removing illegal structures on Shivaji Road witnessed tense moments when merchants and traders staged a rasta roko, demanding that the drive be withdrawn.

The squad led by deputy city engineer Suresh Bhosale and C S More launched the drive. Encroachments by Hotel Rajashri, Maharaja Cold Drink House and Hotel Happy Spot on the back yard of Rajarshi Shahu Smarak Bhavan were removed yesterday evening to clear up the space. According the KMC officials, for years these three hotels have been operating from the area owned by Rajarashi Shahu Smarak Trust. These hotels had constructed sheds by erecting angles in a 35 feet area behind Shahu Smarak Bhavan. Ironically, these hotels were found to be making a brisk business today, within 24 hours after the action was initiated against them. As usual these hotels had laid out tables and chairs.

Municipal commissioner Nitin Gadre said the civic administration was keeping a close watch on those resuming business in the space cleared by the squad.Close on the heels of action taken against these three hotels yesterday, the civic administration launched a drive to remove encroachment on thirteen prominent roads in the city, to facilitate a better traffic movement. The hammer fell on several shops flanking Shivaji Road and Mahadwar Road. The display boards of many shops obstructing traffic were removed.

The display boards hung above shops were also removed. This angered the traders and merchants who chose to stage a rasta roko on the busy Shivaji road and further refused to open their shops.

Tension was diffused only after intervention by the police, who told the traders to meet the municipal commissioner to air their grievances. The squad also removed encroachments on Mahadwar Road and Bhausinghjee Road today. The civic administration plans to remove encroachments on Station Road from Tararani Chowk to Venus Corner chowk, Shivaji chowk to Bindu chowk, Bagal chowk to Bindu chowk, Bhavani Mandal to Chimasaheb Maharaj chowk, Mirajkar Tikati, Papachi Tikati, Municipal Corporation chowk on Bhausinghjee Road, Dabholkar corner chowk and central bus station, Jyotiba Road and the stretch from Saraswati theatre to Mahalakshmi temple. Speaking to reporters, Gadre said that the drive will continue tomorrow.

8220;Traders and merchants operating their businesses from these roads were informed to remove their encroachments through a notice few days back.The action is being taken according to the notice,8221;he said.