South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Sunday launched a massive anti-encroachment drive in various areas in its jurisdiction and removed benches; tables, refrigerators, iron grills, boards, other temporary structures and demolished temporary sheds and tripals.

A senior SDMC official said that huge traffic jam witnessed in these areas because of illegal encroachment. Considering this, the regarding zone of the civic body initiated action and demolished several temporary structures besides issuing notices to owners of various other shops,” he said. 

The encroachment and traffic congestion have not only been causing inconvenience to the passer-by’s and residents but presenting a filthy look in the area known for harbinger of communal harmony and co- existence, the official said.

The action was taken in areas surrounding to Mathura Road, Humayun Tomb, Neela Gumbad and Hazrat Nizammudin Aulia Dargah situated on the roundabout which is on the border line of the Central and South zones.  While taking co-ordinate action officials of the three department of the civic body such as licensing, health and veterinary under Central Zone were deputed, he said.

This action was taken particularly in the context of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the High Court of Delhi by the Jamia Arabia Educational Society alleging that the authorities kept ignoring large scale violations, rampant illegal constructions, unauthorised parking and traffic congestion near Dargah and Humayun Tomb. 

It may be recalled that Lieutenant Governor earlier constituted a Special Task Force (STF) on congestion and illegal parking.  The two being supplement to each other have been causing the existing problem in the area.  The owners of the vehicles parked illegally were also booked earlier apart from removal of the various encroachments.