By Mukesh 
Officials from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), who attempted to demolish commercial encroachments near the Monda Market of Secunderabad, had to drop their mission in the face of stiff resistance from shop owners here on Saturday.
As part of planned demolition drives across the city over the weekend, GHMC officials arrived at the site with earth-mover equipment and heavy police escort. However, large crowds gathered at the location within no time, resisting the attempt. People accosted the police personnel, and laid down on the road to stop the machine from advancing.
During the demolition drive near Charminar, Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Mirza Rahmath Baig Quadri came in support of the shop owners, and started arguing with the police and GHMC staff aggressively.
A statement from GHMC informed in the evening that a special drive was taken up at several locations across the city for removal of encroachments on footpaths and road margins.
Encroachment along the footpaths being demolished by authorities between Monda Market and Secunderabad Railway Station, in Secunderabad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
RAMAKRISHNA G
Plan of action was prepared to take up up the drive on one major road stretch in each zone, and to mobilise all the staff of circles falling in the zone, for smooth conduct of the drive, the statement said. Law & Order and Traffic police were involved through coordination by the Vigilance wing, men and machinery were arranged by the Engineering section, while the Sanitation wing was kept on alert for debris clearance after removal of encroachments.
GHMC termed the drive ‘successful’ in all zones, not mentioning the failure near Monda Market. At Secunderabad, 60 temporary structures were removed on the station road, between Rathifile bus station and Alpha Hotel, the statement said.
A total of 168 permanent and 54 temporary structures were demolished on the Rallaguda Road in Shamshabad Zone, while 17 permanent and 35 temporary structures between Ladbazar and Puranapul, and 110 temporary structures in the Rikabgunj lane in the Charminar zone were removed.
A total of 46 permanent and 33 temporary structures in Aramghar and 37 permanent and 59 temporary structures in Attapur of Rajendranagar Zone, 61 permanent and 93 temporary structures between Jambagh Hanuman Temple-MJ Market- Siddiamberbazar- Afzalgunj bus stop stretch in Golconda Zone, and eight permanent and 14 temporary structures besides three compound walls in Khairatabad Zone too were pulled down.
The special drives, being taken up on directions from the Telangana High Court, will continue in future too, the statement said.