More than 120 obstructions were removed on Nemawar road amidst protest on Saturday.
While half of the obstructions marked for removal were dismantled by the residents themselves.
Structures removed include front portion of constructed houses, shops, sheds, platforms, balconies, boundary walls, etc.
About 9.30 am IMC team equipped with five JCBs, one poclain machine, seven dumpers and about five dozen labourers reached Navlakha Square for the removal drive.
SDMs including Dr Varadmurti Msihra, Rajnish Kasera, DK Nagendra and Shyamednra Jaiswal also reached the spot.
Police forced in riot gear provided necessary support to the team and officers as people came forward raising objection against the action.
People led by ex-MLA Ashwin Joshi raised objection on the action and claimed that the measurement was wrong. An altercation broke between officers and Joshi and police had to intervene. The officers convinced Joshi and his supporters and proceeded with the drive.
Some people alleged that the center line has been manipulated by the officials. The technical staff performed measurement in front of them to clear the doubts.
As the removal team reached Sajan Nagar, three big houses which had a large number of tenants on upper floors stood in the balcony to protest against the removal. They informed the officers that if the balcony and staircase will be dismantled, they will have no way to come down from the building.
They demanded the officers to given some time to make an alternate arrange ment. The officers considered their plea and moved ahead without taking any action.
This developed resentment among other people too who had faced removal action. They shouted slogans against the officers and accused them of being discriminatory.
“None of us was given time except a couple of houses. This is discriminatory and we have objection,” said a resident Kanhaiya Dour.
IMC officers informed the protesting people that these houses had submitted affidavit to dismantle the balcony and staircase and sought time form IMC.
The team continued drive till Teen Imli Square and returned towards Navlakha to remove the obstructions on other side of the road.
Collector Akash Tripathi and IMC Commissioner Rakesh Singh visited the spot and took stock of the proceedings.
IMC had marked more than 200 structures for removal to widen the existing road to 104 feet. Notices were also served in advance and announcements were also made.
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