Patna: Squatters resorted to stone-pelting and road blockade at Station Road on Saturday when the anti-encroachment team reached there to evict them.
The eviction drive was stopped for around half an hour and the police force accompanying the team later managed to disperse squatters from the site. Later an FIR was lodged against anonymous people for trying to prevent the drive at Kotwali police station.
A large number of footpath vendors were removed from the Station Road area and pillars that had been installed by them were also removed.
"Squatters were removed from GPO roundabout near Patna junction area. Around Rs 74,000 fine was collected during the drive while squatters were also removed from the New Market area. Around 200 shops, including concrete ones and those made of tin were demolished during Saturday's drive in New Market area. The road has got much widened after the drive there," executive officer of New Capital circle of PMC, Shailesh Kumar, said.
He said the drive would continue in the same localities for another day on Sunday. "We would also take up the drive in Bailey Road near J D Women's College on Sunday," he said.
The anti-encroachment drive was also conducted from Bazaar Samiti to Dhobi Ghat in Bankipore circle of PMC in which Rs 44,000 was collected as fine while another Rs 2,22,000 was collected during the drive in Patna City. "Kankerbagh circle topped so far as fine collection was concerned as Rs 3,33,500 fine was collected from there," said deputy municipal commissioner Vishal Anand.
PMC commissioner
PMC commissioner Anupam Kumar Suman on Saturday directed for removal of sanitation labourers of the second shift who were found missing during work hours. Suman also asked executive officers to inform wardwise requirement of labourers so that sanitation work of the city could be improved.
Mayor-councillors
Councillors complained to Sahu that sanitation workers were leaving their duty much earlier, while some raised the issue of delay in work of laying new pipelines, installing street lights. Few councillors also talked about the need to create new manholes at a few places. Councillors also highlighted the issue of chocked Bakerganj drain. The need to create new drainage and sump house at Nand Colony was also raised.
