The authorities continued their anti-encroachment drive along the stretch of Chakrata Road from Bindal bridge to Clock Tower on Thursday.Some shopkeepers argued with the officials conducting the demolition drive accusing them of biased action but this did not prevent the authorities from executing the drive.
A team comprising officials of district administration, Municipal Corporation of Dehradun, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority, Public Works Department along with the police conducted the drive against roadside encroachments in observance of Uttarakhand High Court directions.
On the third day, authorities demolished encroachments on the roadsides and footpaths along the Chakrata Road from the Bindal bridge to the Clock Tower. Though the officials faced opposition and protest from some shopkeepers, the drive saw demolition of tin sheds, boards, stalls and encroachments made in the form of shop extensions along this road. The city magistrate GC Gunawant said that the drive against encroachments on roadsides and footpaths will be conducted in other parts of the State capital in coming days. The district administration had already informed those encroaching on roadsides and footpaths to remove their encroachments themselves. Observers opined that the challenge facing the authorities is to prevent encroachments from cropping up again on the space freed during the demolition drive.