Civic body launches anti-encroachment drive in Panipat

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has launched a special anti-encroachment drive on the Panipat-Haridwar National Highway heading from Sanjay Chowk to Babbail Naka. The MC teams removed around 500 slabs constructed in front of shops and showrooms during the three-day drive.

The MC could not clean a drain for over a year as shopkeepers and showroom owners had made concrete structures on it. Notably, water gets accumulated on the NH-44 and the Panipat-Sanoli road during the rainy season every year because of which people face a lot of problems.

To resolve the waterlogging issue, the MC constructed a wide stormwater drain on both sides of the Sanoli road and covered it with concrete slabs around four years ago.

A former councillor said heading from NH-44, the stormwater drain on the right side up to Babbail Naka was constructed in a single phase, while on the left side, the drain was constructed in three phases.

The MC wanted to clean drain before the onset of the monsoon, but it was covered with concrete structures by showroom owners. To sort out the issue, the MC launched a special drive and started removing encroachments and structures constructed by showroom owners and shopkeepers.

Gopal Kalawat, XEN said, “Showroom owners have covered the storm water drain with concrete structures. There is no space left for cleaning it.” He said, “Monsoon is yet to arrive. If drain is not cleaned on time, the road will get waterlogged. These slabs and structures are the major hindrance in cleaning of the drain.” He said, “Around 500 slabs have been removed during the drive which will continue from the road heading from the NH-44 to Babbail Naka. The road will also be widened and decorative lights installed here for its beautification.”

He said, “Seventy-six decorative lights will be installed here for which foundations have been constructed. Apart from it, footpaths will also be constructed on both sides of the road after widening it.”