VMC gears up for fresh anti-encroachment drive in riot-hit Vadodara

Vadodara, May 7 (UNI) Vadodara civic authorities who had stalled the anti-encroachemnt drive recently after communal clashes were reported in the walled city here following demolition of a century-old dargah, will soon begin their drive against commercial encroachments, after Supreme Court stayed a high court order on removal of religious shrines.

After a week-long tense situation under curfew, Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is said to have chalked out a plan to resume its 'operation demolition' against commercial encroachments and slums as the civic body was eager to implement its ambitious Rs 2,500 crore City Development Plan (CDP) to give Vadodara a face-lift.

The plan, which recently received the Centre's nod for implementation under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), would be put to action soon after a Detailed Project Report (DPR) now pending with the union ministry of urban development, gets the Centre's seal of approval, according to VMC sources.

The DPR prepared in consultation with M/s Crisil Infrastructure, had proposed a Rs 400 crore investment plan in the first phase of the City Development Plan, which gives top priority to drinking water supply, sewerage, roads, public transport system, parking, development of inner city and infrastructure.

As the demolition of the dargah had resulted in bloody clashes across the city, the corporation's anti-encroachment drive being vigorously pursued in the last one month by newly elected BJP mayor Sunil Solanki to implementat the new CDP, had virtually come to a grinding halt since May one violence.

With the situation furning back to normalcy, the authorities have reportedly decided to start those machineries soon for carrying out the drive against commercial encroachments and slums those are rampant in western parts of the city.

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