FOR WIDER ROADS: Municipal staff with the support of the police, clearing encroachment on Bagalkot Road near Managuli Agasi in Bijapur on Sunday.

BIJAPUR: Not perturbed by the allegations of highhandedness, the Bijapur City Municipal Council (CMC) continued its drive to clear encroachments on main roads in the city for the second day on Sunday.

Armed with earth moving vehicles, the CMC demolished over 100 structures and compound walls on Bus Stand Road, Bagalkot Road and near Tipu Sultan Circle.

The occupants tried to prevent the demolition, but the police ensured that the CMC carried out its work.

Commonly heard allegations were that the encroachments were being demolished selectively.

"Many buildings occupied footpaths on Bagalkot Road but they are left untouched where as the other properties were cleared although they were within their limits," said Murtuza of Managuli Agasi.

The CMC refuted these allegations.

The land records were checked before the demolition. There are some buildings blocking smooth passage of Bus Stand Road and Bagalkot Road but the owners have genuine ownership deeds.

Genuine buildings

Such buildings cannot be touched without providing adequate compensation.

In some cases, occupants had brought injunctions from court, said a municipal official.

Plan changed

According to the original programme, Jamia Masjid Road, Jodgumbaz Road and Hakim Chowk Road were to be tackled on Sunday but authorities changed the schedule keeping smooth flow of traffic in mind.

The proposed demolition of encroached structure on the said roads will be taken up only after asphalting Bus Stand Road and Bagalkot Road, an official said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail