AMC temporary stays anti-encroachment drive on Beed bypass

Aurangabad: Following legal hurdles, the local civic body has decided to stay the ongoing action against illegal structures till Monday.

Earlier, led by acting municipal commissioner Omprakash Bakoria, Aurangabad Municipal Corporation ( AMC ) removed a total of around 29 encroachments on Beed bypass over a period of past 48-hours by Saturday.

The drive carried out on Saturday witnessed a crackdown against 13 structures, including some permanent structures.

Prabhakar Pathak, designated officer with the Anti-encroachment department of AMC, on Saturday that a group of around 11 encroachers from Beed bypass has approached Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court seeking a stay on action against encroachments. “The court has issued no order, but orally asked the civic body to temporary stop the drive till Monday. We will present our side before the court in an effective manner,” he said.

The crackdown against illegal structures was started on March 11 and removed many unauthorised constructions of permanent and temporary nature from Deolgai Chowk to Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital. A further stretch of road upto Mahanubhav Chowk is still to be made free from encroachments.

Meanwhile, residents from Satara-Deolai area has stressed the need for strong legal presentation by AMC in High court during the hearing on anti-encroachment drive. “Some financially strong people having clout over local politics have their encroachments on Beed bypass road. These elements are bound to create all possible hurdles, including legal roadblocks, while executing anti- encroachment drive. As these elements have dragged AMC into the court, the local civic body must present its version in a strong manner by producing all document and proofs,” said Vijay Kulkarni, a resident of Deolai area.

Beed bypass, which has witnessed over 60 deaths due to road-accidents since 2012, has earned the dubious distinction as ‘death trap’ from locals.