Tense situation prevailed at the RTC bus stand and the Government General Hospital area when the municipal staff under the direct supervision of the Commissioner Vasam Venkateswarlu launched the drive of removing roadside encroachments and outlets of vendors here on Monday.
The encroachers staged rasta roko protesting against the removal of their outlets on the Bodhan road, disrupting the vehicular traffic for a brief period. When the police reached there to take them into custody, they called off the protest.
Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor and MIM district president Fayeemuddin, who arrived there also got involved in a heated argument with the Municipal Commissioner for removing the shops.
He said only the small-time vendors from Muslim community were affected due to the sudden action which rendered them unemployed.
Replying to his argument the Municipal Commissioner said that he began the action only in response to the High Court order sand there was no partiality against anyone in the name of caste or religion.
The encroachments were creating hurdle to the movement of vehicular traffic on the busy road leading to accidents and loss of human life on several occasion. The encroachments were against the Vendors’ Act and therefore the High Court directed to remove them immediately, he said and added that the civic body was ready to show the vendors another place to establish their outlets.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Venkateswarlu said that the town was likely to be selected as a smart city and unless all obstacles were removed its selection would not be possible. He also said that encroachments at that place would be removed in a phased manner.
