PALAKKAD: The Revenue Department has cleared encroachments on Government land near Mercy College in the town.

Some shops in the encroached land near the college were demolished by a squad headed by Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) K. Bhaskaran on Monday. Some of the shop owners who were served eviction notices demolished the unauthorised constructions themselves. The rest was demolished by the squad.

A compound wall constructed by the college authorities on the Government land was also demolished.

Though the anti-encroachment drive had started in other towns in the State two weeks back, it could start only on Monday in the district, which invited criticism from various quarters. One reason cited for this was the absence of District Collector B. Suman who went on a two-moth leave.

According to sources in the Revenue Department, another reason for the delay was that the municipal authorities did not provide the required JCB and other machinery to carry out the demolition work.

The RDO said the demolition work at the main centres of Palakkad town would start on Tuesday.

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