Kolhapur demolition drive takes a break

KOLHAPUR, April 16: Even as citizens of Kolhapur welcomed the civic administration's drive against encroachments last week, doubts are be...

KOLHAPUR, April 16: Even as citizens of Kolhapur welcomed the civic administration8217;s drive against encroachments last week, doubts are being expressed now as the drive has come to a sudden halt.

Last week civic administration went on a major offensive against encroachments in the city. The aim of the drive, said Municipal Commissioner Nitin Gadre, was to clear up thirteen prominent roads in the city to facilitate better traffic movement. No sooner had the drive had begun, the traders and merchants at Mahadwar Road, Shivaji Road and other trading areas in the city put up fierce opposition, as they staged a rasta roko on the first day of the drive itself. And now, it appears that the drive has suddenly been called off by the civic adminstration.

For instance, residents question as to why no action was taken against the hawkers flanking the roads near the Central Bus station and Dabholkar Corner chowk. Instances also happened when particular corporators intervened in the drive to question demolition squads as to why their wards were being singled out. Following such questions, it was seen, that demolition squad turned their attention to other areas.

Sources in the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation KMC told Express Newsline that the scope of the drive in itself was very much limited. 8220;In most of the cases, the removed structures comprised of display boards of the shops, boxes of articles which were kept on roads, staircases, chairs and benches of the shops. No doubt these had to be removed, but what about people who were operating their business on the road,8221; asked sources.

Corporator Bharati Powar, while asserting that not a single corporator had intervened in the drive, said that civic administration was lacking in its will to clear up encroachments. 8220;Areas like Mahadwar Road, Shivaji Road need to be cleared up totally. Similarly I do not understand as to why the civic authorities are hesitant in clearing up encroachments near Mutton Market in Lakshmipuri area. The total effect of the drive has been just to clear up some inches of space on all these prominent roads,8221; she felt.

Another KMC official set aside all doubts by stating that the drive will launched again from Monday. 8220;It was decided to give a break, on account of Ambedkar Jayanti and Shiv Jayanti festivals. We did not want to hurt anybody8217;s sentiments by carrying out our drive during this week, as preparations for these occasions are on. KMC will resume the drive from Monday,8221; he said.