The demolition squad of GMDA pulls down a petrol pump under construction near Udesna Cinema on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections

July 3: After targeting the illegally built highrises, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA)’s axe today fell on a filling station, which was under construction on the parking area of a cinema hall.

Amid allegations that the government is targeting only the highrises in its demolition drive, the GMDA today started the demolition of the petrol pump, which was coming up close to Udesna Cinema on GS Road this morning.

The chief executive officer of GMDA, N.M. Hussain, said the place, where the petrol pump was being constructed, was actually the parking space of the cinema hall.

“The owner had shown the space as parking lot while seeking permission for the cinema hall, but later erected a wall and started construction of the petrol pump at the place,” Hussain said.

After receiving a demolition notice from the GMDA, the owner had moved Gauhati High Court challenging the move. The court, however, upheld the demolition notice.

A GMDA official said the demolition drive would now target the constructions, which pose a threat to public safety.

“The filling station was being constructed so close to the cinema hall, that it could easily lead to a disaster like the one that happened at Upahar cinema hall in New Delhi,” the official said.

“If the cinema hall was not making enough profit, the proprietor should have closed it down before going ahead with the construction of the petrol pump. But setting up a petrol pump on the parking space of a cinema hall is highly objectionable,” he added.

Recently, the GMDA had demolished two floors of the Prince Hotel, which were constructed illegally, after the high court cleared the hurdles on its way.

The government has also instructed the GMDA and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) to take action against the owners of the buildings without adequate parking space.

“Both the agencies have served notices on the owners of altogether 29 buildings identified by the traffic police as not having adequate provision for car parking,” the official said.

The next targets in the ongoing demolition drive will be buildings constructed encroaching on public roads and drains, unauthorised constructions in and around places of tourist attraction or historical interest, buildings of archaeological importance besides buildings constructed on reserved open spaces and green belts.