Despite protests and politics that came along for the demolition of illegal settlements and encroachments in the Battala areas Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Dipak Majumdar remained undeterred and reiterated his stand that all illegal encroachments in the city would be bulldozed, if the owners themselves on their own did not vacate.
The AMC task force pulled down as many as 23 small and big shops settled illegally on the both sides of Battala to Dashamighat road and also inside the market.
Following the massive bulldozing at Battala the traders in the all-time busy markets went for a dawn to dusk bandh. They also held a protest march on the road. But the city father remained unmoved : “Illegal occupants were given prior notice and enough time to clear up their shops. Since they did not obey we had no other options but the engage the bulldozers. We will not allow illegal encroachments in the city. Besides we need to clear the roads from illegal occupation for smooth traffic pedestrian movement”.
“Besides, no civil society and citizens’ institutions would allow illegal bars and liquor shops to run in the open that too on occupied land”, he said.
Majumdar also did not forget to take a dig at the CPM for their support to the traders and illegal occupants.
“The Communists could support such illegal activities for their politics, but we shall not allow. We shall carry on with the evictions of the illegal settlements in not only Battala but also in other parts of the city”, he added.
Talking about the illegally set up “Mini bars” and liquor shops, the Mayor said, “We won’t tolerate such illegal things like the Communists. Our government is working to make the state drugs free. Nothing illegal will be entertained”.
Earlier, Congress and CPM leaders including politburo member Manik Sarkar expressed their solidarity with the traders’ whose shops were demolished alleging that no alternative arrangements were made for them before eviction drive.
