The staff of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), accompanied by about 100-strong police force and mechanised earth movers, swooped down on the illegal occupants of the green belt between Thatchetlapalem and R&B Junction and evicted them here on Sunday.
In a stretch of about 4-km, 28 illegal occupants were removed, said assistant city planner of GVMC Rajeswara Rao.
The illegal structures were mostly commercial ventures and six residential houses had encroached upon the green belt apart from their existing houses. “We have left the legal portion intact and only demolished the encroached part,” he said.
The green belt is an important component of the 200-feet NH-16 and it is there in the master plan. The GVMC has taken a decision to remove all illegal occupants and we shall do it in phases, said Mr. Rajeswara Rao.
The green belt along the NH 16 covers a distance of about 20-km from Maddilapalem Junction to Gajuwaka Junction and there has been encroachment on both sides.
Notices were served well in advance and the occupants have not been heeding to it, said Mr. Rajeswara Rao.
However, on the temples such as Sai Baba temple at Kancharapalem, Santoshimaa temple at Kaparada and the Hanuman temple near Fifth Town Police station, the ACP confirmed that the temple authorities have occupied part of the green belt and notices were served on them.
“The temples were constructed long ago and we have served notices on the temple management to locate to a new place or at least vacate the encroached portion. We have given them sufficient time to relocate and let’s wait and see,” he said.
Alternative sites sought
Resenting the eviction, CPI(M) city secretary B. Ganga Rao said that GVMC evicted the poor people without any notice. “Moreover, the residents were given pattas about a year ago, and they are having ration cards and paying electricity bills. We demand alternative sites for the evicted persons, be it residential or commercial, as it is an attack on their livelihood,” he said.
Refuting the allegations, Mr. Rajeswara Rao pointed out notices were served on them well before and alternative sites would be provided to genuine cases at the housing sites for weaker sections.
Speaking to The Hindu, Visakhapatnam MLA (north) Vishnu Kumar Raju said that the eviction was part of the smart city project and only those who encroached the green belt were removed. But even then, the genuinely affected persons would be accommodated at weaker housing sections.