Nagpur.
Taking a serious note heavy encroachment on almost all main roads causing hurdle in smooth vehicular traffic and subsequent spate of fatal accidents the Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has cracked the whip and directed the concerned authorities to free the roads from encroachments immediately. Similarly, the Minister asked the Enforcement Department of NMC to draw a plan and carry out sustained anti-encroachment drives with the help of all Zonal Deputy Commissioners of Police.
Bawankule was presiding a meeting called to draw a strategy and prepare an action plan aimed at removing and prohibiting encroachments that are dotting almost all main roads in several areas of the city in general and thickly populated areas in particular. The meeting was held at MSEDCL’s Bijli Nagar VIP Guest House on Saturday (April 25).
The meeting was attended by Mayor Pravin Datke, MLAs Sudhakar Kohale, Vikas Kumbhare, Dr Milind Mane, MLC Anil Sole, Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar, Zone-2 Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Latkar, NIT Superintending Engineer Sunil Gujjelwar, Sub-Divisional Officer (Nagpur City Revenue) Nishikant Suke, Enforcement Superintendent Arun Pimpurde and others.
The Mayor lamented the non-cooperation by police department during anti-encroachment drives. Instead of frequently asking help of police department, setting up of a separate police station for this specific task is need of the hour, stressed the Mayor. “Except Nagpur, the cities of Mumbai, Pune, Thane and other cities within Municipal Corporations have independent police stations. Even though some police personnel are deputed in NMC the number is not sufficient. A request was forwarded to State Government for setting up of independent police station. The matter should be immediately resolved,” said the Mayor.
MLA Vikas Kumbhare drew the attention of Minister towards thickly populated areas in Central Nagpur and how the encroachments on roads posing hurdles in vehicular traffic. MLC Anil Sole said that focus should be on selected main roads and encroachments should be removed on priority. Dr Milind Mane said that all information regarding encroachments should be sought from MLAs. A list of religious places encroaching roads should be prepared and a coordinated action be taken to remove these hurdles in a respectful manner.
After reviewing the scenario, the Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule directed the concerned officials to crackdown of encroachments with heavy hand.
