As part of the High Court-ordered anti-encroachment campaign in Dehradun, 122 encroachments were demolished and 167 marked in Race Course and Shimla Bypass areas of the city on Monday. So far, a total of 4134 encroachments have been razed and 109 buildings sealed for violating the regulations. However, critics opine that the authorities have bowed down to pressure from some members of the business fraternity and influential persons due to which the anti-encroachment drive has been deferred in some areas including Premnagar, Rajpur Road and Paltan Bazaar area.
The Addl Chief Secy Om Prakash said on Monday that the task force comprising officials of the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) and district administration has continued to undertake the HC ordered removal of encroachments from public roads, footpaths and other areas in the city. He stressed that the encroachments are being removed from the city as per the orders of the court. The sites from where encroachments have been removed are being monitored regularly to ensure that the freed space is not encroached upon again. Stating that the number of encroachments in Dehradun city is considerable, the additional chief secretary said that efforts are being made to ensure that the city is cleared of encroachments as early as possible. He directed the officials to ensure that new hoardings are not placed at sites from where large and small hoardings were removed as part of the anti-encroachment drive.
He directed officials of the power, Public Works Department, irrigation, MDDA, Peyjal Nigam, Jal Sansthan, Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited and other departments concerned to complete their respective tasks in a planned and time-bound manner.