Srinagar, June 15: Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) Wednesday launched anti-encroachment drive at Fruit Mandi, Parimpora.
 Besides removing scores of illegal structures, the SDA team also retrieved several patches of land that were under illegal occupation in the area.
 The anti-encroachment drive, according to SDA officials, was launched on the directions of the SDA vice-chairperson Dilshad Khan.
 According to eyewitnesses, the demolition squad of SDA, headed by senior officers of the Enforcement and Land Management wing and accompanied by a large posse of police from police station Parimpora, started the anti-encroachment drive at Fruit Mandi around noon demolishing scores of illegal structures. The encroachments removed from Fruit Mandi were not only causing congestion in the area, but also hampered smooth traffic movement, SDA officials said. 
 “SDA had recently warned the encroachers, through newspapers, to remove any encroachments on their own and enough time was given for the same,” VC SDA Dilshad Khan said.
 She said the drive would continue in other areas especially along the Panthachowk-Parimpora bypass that falls in SDA local area if the violators fail to remove the illegal structures, that have come up in violation of the Master Plan, on their own. “We won’t allow any violation of the Master Plan to maintain distinct and historic characteristics of the Srinagar city,” she said.
 Deputy Director (Enforcement) Abdul Aziz Khawaja and Deputy Director Land Management Showkat Ahmad Matoo led the demolition drive at Fruit Mandi today.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST