Following the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directive, the Indore administration on Wednesday cleared government land worth an estimated Rs 100 crore on the banks of the Kanh river in the heart of the city from encroachments, officials said.
The drive was undertaken to demolish more than 50 illegal shops and over 45 unauthorised factories along the river banks in the South Toda area of the commercial city, said the officials.
Now, the river banks will be realigned and the surrounding area will be beautified. During the operation, the encroachers created a ruckus. The officials said approximately two acres of government land was freed from encroachments in this action, and its market value is estimated to be around Rs 100 crore. As per the NGT’s directive, action was taken to remove illegal constructions located within a 30-meter radius of the river bank. Assistant Police Commissioner Vijay Chaudhary said an FIR has been registered against 15 people for obstructing government work, disturbing peace, and other charges during the encroachment removal operation.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ghanshyam Dhangar said encroachments along the banks of the Kanh River were obstructing the river’s natural flow. He said, “We have taken possession of valuable government land by removing all encroachments. While trying to disperse the crowd, a person pushed Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Disesh Agarwal, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground, according to officials.
