Dharwad: As announced in the monthly municipal council meeting, the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) authorities have launched anti-encroachment drive in both Hubballi and Dharwad to clear the pavements of encroachments.
On the first day of the drive launched from zone-1 of the Corporation, several roadside shops and unauthorised structures were removed in Dharwad under police protection. The HDMC staff razed the petty shops from 6 am, that had come up near the R N Shetty Stadium complex, Karnataka College road and circle, Saptapur circle, Jayanagar Cross and Srinagar area.
Prior to the drive, authorities had issued notices to all those who had set up the shops illegally on pavements and other public places in city limits. The forceful action was taken to remove them only when the shop owners failed to heed to their notice. The authorities have warned to continue the drive and the remove structures. If they reappear, those encroaching would be penalised, they said.
Despite some initial resistance from a few petty shop owners, the authorities went ahead with the clearance drive. Municipal Commissioner Major (Rtd) Siddalingayya Hiremath has already announced that encroachments in public places would be cleared in both Hubballi and Dharwad.
