Malegaon Commissioner finally at work

More on Ummid : International l National l Regional l Politics l Sports l Religion l History l Culture l Education

Malegaon,

Not The One You Know

MMC Commissioner, Finally at Work

May 20, 2008, Aleem Faizee

After months of speculations and planning, Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) officials are at last on the roads for what they are terming as the development of the town. Nashik Times reports as the demolition of illegal construction in Malegaon is in full flow.

More on Malegaon

Masjid, Mandir and Me: Malegaon, a town in India with more than 70% Muslim population has always been considered as a communally sensitive place....Read Full

An Information Outlet: Urdu Library in Malegaon turned 100 this year and the library, which has helped many Ph. Ds in their research work, is all set to...Read Full

Forgotten Heroes: “I have always wondered how, the Muslims and the Hindus together, had decided to set a Mandir on fire”, said Dr. Iftekhar Ansari...Read Full

...More

Inquilab 1857 to Sacchar Report-Nothing has changed for Indian Muslims: Leaving behind the dark memories of the renewed terror and trauma for the Muslims in India... Read Full

‘Advising Restraint, work for the Revival of the Community’: We should advise the Indian Muslims for observing total restraint so that the Anti-Muslim forces ...Read Full

After months of deliberations and planning, Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC) Commissioner is finally at work. Urging the natives, hawkers and the shop owners throughout the town to sacrifice, Commissioner Sudhir Raut led the encroachment-demolition squad to clear the badly-occupied roads and streets in Malegaon. The corporation officials were planning since last few days for this huge demolition drive and requesting the people to clear the illegal constructions on their own had marked all the encroached areas two days in advance before actually beginning the demolition on May 17.

Malegaonians look beyond Anti-Encroachment Drive:

Against the ongoing encroachment demolition drive, people in Malegaon want something more than this. Commenting at the development of the last few days, Shabbeer Abroo, a local activist says, “Now that the people are supporting the corporation in its action against encroachment, it is the duty of the commissioner now to look into other grievances of the town especially because the monsoon season is already on card and not much has been seen till now as long as cleanliness and sanitation are concerned.”

Equally disturbing for the people is the timing of the demolition. At the time when the local textile industry is going through a bad patch and the overall business in the town is touching new low, general population, though not against the demolition is looking towards the corporation for taking certain concrete steps so as to construct special hawkers zones for the people affected by the demolition. “It is surprising that a town of over half a million people is not having a single complex that can be called as a shopping centre. Corporation owns lot of space in the town. It is high time the corporation decides now for the construction of shopping complex and hawkers zone for the affected people”, says Qurban Ali, a hawker.

Supported by Asst Commissioner Ashok Kapde, Additional Commissioner Suresh Pawar, town planner Bawisker and sanitary inspector Niyazuddin Shaikh, the demolition and clearing of the illegal shops that started on May 17 is still continued covering almost the whole town. Several illegal shops along Qedwai Road, the areas from Shahidon ki Yadgaar to Shivaji Statue and from Mosam Bridge to Mochi Corner, the encroachment on and around Sangmeshwar Road and Mohd Ali Road that extends from Sardar Chowk to Mushawerat Chowk, MHB Colony, Tipu Sultan Tower and Kusumba Road were all cleared by the Corporation officials in last ten days. In what is termed as the sternest action till now, Corporation Officials removed the encroachments around Nandan Tower and Mohammadia Shopping Center near Qedwai Road not sparing even the steps leading to Janata Dal (S) office. Lest they reoccupy the cleared areas, a group of Corporation officials is continuously patrolling the whole town.

The most encouraging development for the officials is that except for the few minor incidents which can be easily termed as aberrations, the whole drive is completely peaceful. At most places people are seen voluntarily supporting the corporation officials and removing the illegal construction on their own. On Mohammad Ali Road most of the illegal constructions, adjoining the shops and residential premises, were voluntarily removed by the owners themselves.

In the past terming the town as sensitive the administration has always shied away from taking any action. This had resulted in transforming the whole of Malegaon into a virtual ghetto leaving it without a single proper road or street to travel on. Things changed after Sudhir Raut took the charge as the Commissioner at Malegaon and held series of meetings with denizens immediately after that and tried to explain the people the need for the tough decisions. (Nasik Times)

Home | Top of the page

Comment on this article

Ummid Business: Advertise with us | Careers | Link Exchange

Ummid.com is part of Awaz Multimedia & Publications providing World News, News Analysis and Feature Articles on Education, Health. Politics, Technology, Sports, Entertainment, Industry etc. The articles or the views displayed on this website are for public information and in no way describe the editorial views. The users are entitled to use this site subject to the terms and condition mentioned.