Date:29/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/29/stories/2007042907200500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

SCR officials clear encroachments

Staff Reporter

CPI(M) activists try to obstruct officials, speak to DRM to stop the work

Some 15 thatched houses along the railway tracks cleared

CPI(M) activists seek alternative sites, houses for the poor

NOWHERE TO GO: A little boy carrying roof tiles after his house was demolished by the railway authorities as part of clearing encroachments in Anantapur on Saturday.

ANANTAPUR: Officials of the South Central Railway accompanied by the railway police removed 15 encroachments (thatched houses) along the railway tracks in Aravind Nagar and Krupananda Nagar areas in the town on Saturday.

The encroachment removal was, however, stopped midway as the local CPI (M) activists requested the railway officials to give some time to the poor to move till alternative house sites were shown to them. The activists alleged that the action of the railway officials had rendered 15 families homeless. They were living along the railway tracks for the last 25 years.

Railway officials accompanied by railway police lead by Inspector B. Narasimhulu began clearing the encroachments with the help of some dozen railway gangmen in the morning. The residents tried to obstruct them, but in vain. Then they approached the local CPI (M) activists. However, by the time activists reached the spot 15 thatched houses were removed.

Loss put at Rs. 5 lakhs

After the obstruction the railway officials spoke to the Divisional Railway Manager at Guntakal and agreed to stop the work for the time being. They activists put the property loss at about Rs. 5 lakhs.

Meanwhile, the residents were busy picking up whatever belongings they could even as the railway workers got down to work. The CPI (M) activists wanted district officials to show alternative house sites to the poor and also construct houses.