Three days after issuing notice, Corporation authorities removed encroachments along Thiruvenkadasami Veedi from Paneerselvam Park to Eashwarankovil Street Junction on Wednesday.
The action follows an order issued by Collector S. Prabakar at the recent meeting of the District Traffic Committee in response to public complaints about shrinkage of road breadth due to expanding encroachments on two sides.
Since cooperation of shopkeepers was not forthcoming despite a door-to-door campaign, a crackdown was carried out to pull down encroachments in front of about 200 shops. The road, originally 40 feet wide, had been encroached to the extent of at least a metre on both sides in front of several shops. To place their wares in the front, the shop owners had covered the storm water drainage with concrete, making it difficult for Corporation workers to clear blockages that get aggravated frequently due to the dumping of plastic covers during the functioning of weekly markets on Mondays and Tuesdays.
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At times of rain, water overflows on the road. Officials monitoring the eviction had advised the shop owners not to resort to encroachments again with a warning that similar action would be carried out at frequent intervals. A team, including employees of Health and Electricity departments, led by Assistant Commissioner T. Ashok Kumar carried out the eviction drive on instructions from Corporation Commissioner R. Mohan.
The local body would be clearing encroachments along the Easwaran Kovil Street once the underground drainage works are completed, and along the stretch between Paneerselvam Park and Manikoondu, by teaming up with Highways Department, in a week's time, Mr. Ashok Kumar said.