Way paved for bridge construction

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 12

Finally, encroachments near Jagraon Bridge here were demolished by a team of the Municipal Corporation on Tuesday. The team arrived at the spot early in the morning and started the demolition drive. 

Joint Commissioner of MC Kulpreet Singh led the team. The residents were given time to vacate their houses before starting the drive. 

A huge police force, including police women, was deployed in the area to maintain law and order situation during the drive. Initially, local residents, including women, objected to the demolition drive and minor arguments with the MC officials and the police ensued. But they gave up soon and the machines started pulling down the structures. 

Youth threatens to jump from roof 

A minor drama was witnessed when a youth climbed the rooftop of a house and threatened to jump in protest against the drive. Though he climbed down after a few minutes following appeals by the authorities and the local residents, he was overpowered by the police and kept in custody for some time. 

The Municipal Corporation staff demolished several illegal structures. According to the authorities, as many as 97 illegal structures are to be demolished during the drive. The drive was going on till the filing of this report late in the evening. Most of the illegal structures had been demolished. 

Meanwhile, Kulpreet Singh said the demolition of these structures was required for widening the bridge. “We had served notices on the residents of the area and asked them to vacate their houses. The demolition drive was carried out in a peaceful manner and most of the local residents were cooperative,” he said. 

He said the residents, whose houses had been demolished, had been allotted flats by the Municipal Corporation in the Mundian Kalan area of Ludhiana.

Drive peaceful

"We had served notices on the residents of the area and asked them to vacate their houses. The demolition drive was carried out in a peaceful manner and most of the local residents were cooperative" Kulpreet Singh, Joint Commissioner of MC