E-Paper
PWD drive causes traffic jam
AMID TIGHT security, the demolition drive being carried by the Public Works Department (PWD) continued here in Pandeypur area for the second day on Friday. The entire Pandeypur area experienced massive traffic jam due to the demolition drive. More than two-dozen permanent illegal structures were demolished from Pandeypur Crossing on Thursday and Friday. The PWD authorities along with the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) bulldozed the two-storied Jan Sangh Library on Pandeypur Crossing today.
AMID TIGHT security, the demolition drive being carried by the Public Works Department (PWD) continued here in Pandeypur area for the second day on Friday. The entire Pandeypur area experienced massive traffic jam due to the demolition drive.
More than two-dozen permanent illegal structures were demolished from Pandeypur Crossing on Thursday and Friday. The PWD authorities along with the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) bulldozed the two-storied Jan Sangh Library on Pandeypur Crossing today. Bharatiya Janata Party workers had confronted the authorities against the demolition of the Jan Sangh Library on Thursday but no such protest was seen when the library was demolished today.
The BJP workers were claiming the Jan Sangh Library was constructed after the VNN had granted permission but could not prove their claim. The BJP leaders were allowed to clear their stand till 10 am on Friday.
Assistant City Magistrate (4th), Punit Shukla and Circle Officer of Cantonment Police Station, Santosh Singh supervised the demolition drive. Cops of Cantonment Police Station, Sarnath Police Station, Shivpur Police Station along with jawans of one truck Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) were deployed to ensure a smooth conduct of demolition drive today.
The demolition drive was suspended for a short period due to interference of Samajwadi Party workers. Interestingly, some illegal constructions demolished on Thursday, were reconstructed over night.
Cops had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the agitated locals during the demolition drive on Thursday.
A named FIR against 43 persons was lodged with Cantonment Police Station for disrupting the work of PWD on Thursday. Traders under the banner of Uttar Pradesh Udyog Vyapar Pratinidhi Mandal and Varanasi Nagar Vyapar Mandal had registered their protest against the demolition of some business establishments.
Local residents alleged the authorities had left some illegal constructions in the area as political pressure had been put on them.
