The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, whose demolition drive against encroachments over parking spaces has gained momentum, was able to clear encroachments in 15 buildings on Wednesday.
The drive was supposed to be launched in all 12 zones of the corporation but due to technical issues, the drive was conducted in only six zones.
Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad Rajendra Cholan and Municipal Commissioner Noor Mansoor visited all the 15 buildings that were targeted on Wednesday.
During Wednesday’s drive, encroachments from the most number of buildings was completed in HDMC zone 9.
In zone 6 in Hubballi and zone 3 in Dharwad, encroachments in three buildings were cleared and in zone 4 in Hubballi encroachments in two commercial buildings were cleared. In both zone 11 in Hubballi and zone 12 in Dharwad, the drive was carried out in only one building each.
Pawar Building at Dajibanpet, Gubbi Building at Koulpet, Jain Building at Kanchargar Galli, Rajalaxmi Complex at Kamadolli Oni, Nakod Tower and Lucky Tower on Kusugal Road were among the major buildings targeted in Hubballi.
In Dharwad, four buildings were targeted. As earthmovers could not be used to clear illegal structures, labourers and concrete cutters were used.
The drive was also carried out in two buildings, belonging to Deepak Tenginakai and Sunil Tenginakai, Geeta Complex on the old PB Road and Gondkar Building near Toll Naka in Dharwad, and it went on till late evening.
HDMC officials said that the drive would be taken up extensively on Thursday and the plan was to cover as many buildings as possible. Meanwhile, there were complaints by building owners against the drive and President of the Association of Consulting Civil Engineers Suresh Kiresur objected to the manner in which the drive was being carried out.
