In pursuance of the High Court orders, the State authorities have made preparations to remove roadside and other encroachments in Dehradun from Wednesday. Earlier in the week, the Additional Chief Secretary Om Prakash presided over a meeting with various departmental officers during which the teams for the anti-encroachment drive were formed. The Dehradun District Magistrate SA Murugesan informed that all necessary preparations have been made for conducting the anti-encroachment drive in the city from Wednesday. The teams deputed for this task will carry out demarcation of encroachments and also demolish the same.
Adequate police force has also been deputed for the anti-encroachment drive. Though the authorities do not expect a major law and order situation, if required, section 144 could be imposed to facilitate execution of the drive in the city.
It will be recalled that taking cognisance of a letter written earlier by Dehradun based journalist Manmohan lakhera to the high court chief justice, the high court on June 20 had directed the State authorities to remove encroachments from footpaths, streets and roads in Dehradunwithin four weeks. The high court had also directed the Government to remove encroachments from the banks of the Rispana river within three months.