SHILLONG: The Tura district administration along with all line departments and the Tura Municipal Board has decided to take steps to remove the road side encroachments, temporary stalls, vendors and sellers who squat on busy road pavements and by the streets obstructing movement of passersby.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said that the encroachers and vendors on the pavements and side of the roads endanger the lives of the pedestrians and cause accidents.
While this is the first information given to the encroachers, the matter will be circulated widely this entire week, he said.
The Deputy Commissioner said that the district administration is planning an anti-encroachment drive for public safety soon to remove illegal encroachment of PWD roads and pavements, besides spaces in front of government offices.
Bakshi said that on account of traffic congestion, encroachment on the side of PWD roads, National Highways through West Garo Hills in both municipal areas and rural areas there is inconvenience to passersby, commuters, children and adults. There is risk of accidents especially in narrow roads and road junctions.
He also said that it was noticed that the encroachers and street side vendors block the movement of pedestrians exposing them to accidents while walking on the side of the roads.
“The encroachment with temporary or permanent construction is both illegal and a causal factor of several accidents. It is also destroying the look of the town at a time when the state government is engaged in promoting the town as tourist destination,” he said.
As per specifications of Indian Road Congress three metres on both sides of the state highways, national highways and NEC roads and 2.5 metres on both sides of other roads are to be kept encroachment free/ free from any construction. Also as per instructions indicated in the patta issued by Garo Hills Autonomous District Council the patta will not include land which is at a distance of 35 feet from the middle/centre of the Government or village road.
The Deputy Commissioner said that all street side vendors and sellers should immediately vacate the space from the end of the road and market their produce from designated markets and haats. All government departments have been directed to issue notices for removal of the roadside encroachments and in front of their government offices.
