Mangalore: City Corporation Bulldozes Illegal Building Extensions
Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, Feb 28: The extended roofs on shops in central market, which were constructed without permission, were removed by the city corporation on Friday February 27.
The illegal extensions were bulldozed around the central market building. There were about 20 such shops and the reason for the removal was because they encroached on the footpath.
Some of the vendors requested that the demolition be postponed and said that they would remove it if given time. But city corporation commissioner Sameer Shukla who was leading the drive said that offenders had been orally informed two days in advance.
This eviction drive followed a visit by deputy commissioner (DC) V Ponnuraj who had ordered that the footpaths be cleared.
Shukla said that though there was no requirement for them to issue notices to shops which had illegal constructions, they had been informed in advance orally.
Some of the vendors argued with the commissioner that the extra roofs had been put up with oral approval from the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC). To this Shukla replied that there was provision only for putting up temporary shades to give protection from the elements, but not for permanent structures.
The MCC staff also made use of the opportunity to remove illegal petty shops in footpath which came as a surprise move for many of the squatters. A large crowd gathered to see the drive and there was a significant police presence too.