On Sunday, the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation and police administration jointly conducted an encroachment removal drive from Mahatma Gandhi Statue Town Hall to Maharana Pratap Statue site on Railway Road. During the campaign, a significant amount of encroached goods were seized, encroachments made by setting up sheds outside shops were demolished, and...
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generators placed on roads and drains were removed. Footpaths were cleared. A fine of ₹71,000 was also collected for encroachment and littering. The campaign started at 3:30 pm from Gandhi Statue Town Hall with two JCBs, 5 tractor trolleys, enforcement teams, zonal officials, and sanitation inspectors. The Additional Municipal Commissioner, Nirankar Singh, leading the campaign, stated that announcements were made through public address systems on Saturday and Sunday morning to inform everyone about the encroachment drive and to remove encroachments. During the campaign, goods were removed from the alleys and roads in front of shops on both sides of the road from Gandhi Statue to Kali Mandir Golghar. A considerable amount of goods was also seized. Small generators were removed from both tracks. The corporation could not remove large generators due to a lack of resources. Some people paid fines and requested time to remove their generators. Two small generators were also seized. Meanwhile, the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Cantt, Manush Parikh, also joined the campaign after a dispute arose at one shop. Handcarts, stalls, and sheds extended outside shops were demolished at several places on both sides of the road. The second phase of the campaign from Kali Mandir Statue Golghar to Maharana Pratap Statue site on Railway Road via the traffic intersection lasted till 7:45 pm. During this time, several handcarts were seized. Sheds built outside shops were demolished at several places from the traffic intersection to Maharana Pratap Statue site. Shops selling non-vegetarian food in the open near the temple on Railway Road were also removed. Several encroachers complained that shopkeepers were charging them rent to set up shops. The Additional Municipal Commissioner warned of strict action. Meanwhile, the SP City, Krishna Kumar Bishnoi, GDA Secretary, Uday Pratap Singh, Chief Engineer, Kishan Singh, Executive Engineer, Narendra Kumar, and Assistant Engineer, Raj Bahadur Singh, removed all the shops from the boating area to Buddha Dwar. During the campaign, the Municipal Corporation officials also removed stoves from the front of some restaurants. Some showed understanding and requested time, while others argued. Fines were also imposed on some. The Additional Municipal Commissioner warned the restaurant operators not to operate stoves on the road and drain. Otherwise, the stoves would be confiscated. The District President of the Gorakhpur Industry and Trade Association, Nitin Kumar Jaiswal, who reached the campaign site, requested the Additional Municipal Commissioner to install solar panels in the shops of the Municipal Corporation to supply electricity. This would eliminate the need for generators by shopkeepers. He appealed to the traders to park their vehicles in the multi-level parking lot. He also requested the Additional Municipal Commissioner to start parking behind Chetna Hotel and at some other locations. He also requested an investigation into whether the Municipal Corporation has sold or permitted footpaths around the Jal Kal building. Otherwise, they should be vacated strictly.