It was ‘shramdan' of a different kind. Infuriated over the inaction of the municipal authorities in clearing encroachments on a colony road, residents of nearby colonies in Uppal demolished the encroachments by several industrial units on Sunday.
The demolition drive was christened as ‘shramdan' programme by the residents of Church Colony, Sri Ramanapuram, Janapriya Apartments and TV Colony, who were pretty cut up with the municipal authorities. The residents living in colonies abutting the Uppal Industrial Area found it hard to digest the encroachments on the colony road.
Own entry points
Several industrial units which were supposed to use another road for entry and exit had created their own entry points on the Church Colony road side. And they constructed gates and dumped mounds of earth. Another dairy unit owned by relatives of a political leader, who propagated the concept of ‘shramdan' had raised the pavement to a height and fenced it, thereby effectively encroaching the road.
Mild tension
Most of the units were closed but mild tension prevailed when employees of a furniture fabrication unit objected to the ‘shramdan'. As arguments continued police had to intervene to pacify both groups.
Residents say St. John's Seminary had donated land for laying the 1.6 km long road stretch for the benefit of residents of Church Colony and its surroundings. For the last two years, the industrial units started using Church Colony road by constructing separate entrances. Heavy vehicles, motorcycles and autorickshaws are parked in a haphazard manner causing problems to locals, charged a resident Varghese Theckanath.
He alleged that workers of companies assemble near a parking lot and create nuisance. “Women and teenagers are scared to use this stretch,” he said. Another disturbing factor is effluents released from these companies onto the road. Even after requesting officials concerned to initiate stern action against the errant industries, nothing concrete has been done till date, he maintained.
