
The Kangra police and the municipal authorities today swung into action against encroachments on different roads of the town, especially in the Mandir Bazar, and removed 11 encroachments.
A shopkeeper, who managed to take away the confiscated material from the municipal council complex, was challaned. The encroachments were removed to provide convenience to the local residents and pilgrims and tourists visiting this temple town.
SDM, Kangra, Ajeet Bhardawaj said today that last week shopkeepers in the Mandir Bazar were warned by the authorities that they should remove encroachments from the front side of their shops.
He said encroachments were removed by the authorities with the help of the police as despite the warnings the violators failed to remove the same.
The SDM said this temple town, where lakhs of pilgrims visit the Bajjreshwari temple, encroachments by shopkeepers in the main market in general and the Mandir Bazar locality in particular had created a mess for pedestrians.
He said during a meeting of the municipal authorities, led by its chief Suman Verma, Beopar Mandal chief Ved Prakash Sharma police officers, it decided to take certain measures to check the issue.
The municipal authorities and the police removed 11 encroachments and the entire goods were confiscated.
He said one of these shopkeepers who, dared to take his confiscated material from the municipal council complex, was challaned by the authorities and other violators were also fined.
The SDM said shopkeepers from the Tehsil Chowk area to the Mandir Bazar entry point were also told to remove encroachments within two days. Otherwise the authorities would remove the same and the confiscated goods would be auctioned.
Local residents appreciated the step taken by the authorities to check encroachments.