PWD staff told to check recurrence of encroachment

New Delhi: The public works department (PWD) has sought suggestions from its field staff to check recurrence of encroachments on its roads in the capital. PWD engineer-in-chief R.K. Agrawal has directed field staff to be “vigilant” so that recurrence of encroachment does not take place, an official said.

The direction was issued at a recently held meeting that was chaired by Mr Agrawal, according to the official.

The PWD owns around 1,260-km roads in the national Capital. The anti-encroachment drives are being carried out in the city on the directions of a special task force that was formed by the Union housing and urban affairs ministry.

“All the field staff have been asked to give suggestions on how to check recurrence of encroachments on roads owned by the PWD. They (field staff) know the ground reality that is why they have been asked to send their suggestions to the engineer-in-chief,” the official said.

PWD is providing logistics to municipal corporations for removal of encroachments on its roads. “No field staff will issue any notice for removal of any encroachment on PWD roads. Such right lies with MCD only. The PWD has to provide manpower and machinery for removal of encroachments,” the official  said.

As per the minutes of the meeting, “Field staff should be vigilant recurrence of encroachment doesn’t take place and if it happens, the same may be reported to the STF, MCD and Delhi police for removal of the same.”

In January, several AAP MLAs had demanded PWD minister Satyendar Jain said the department be empowered to remove encroachments from roads to ensure smooth vehicular movement.

“During the meeting, most of the MLAs demanded that the PWD should be given power to remove encroachment which causes traffic congestion. At present, municipal corporations have such powers,” Mr Jain had said.