Agitated Vadodara residents protest against VMC’s encroachment drive

Agitated residents of Vadodara staged a massive protest against an encroachment drive carried out by the police and municipality corporation on Tuesday.

Protesting against the encroachment drive the locals attacked and torched vehicles plying on the road. The encroachment drive came as a decision from local administration head.

Two policemen sustained minor injuries. 50 Special Reserve Police personnel along with local policemen were deployed to control the situation.

VMC, which is on a major demolition drive across the city as part of Smart City project, had issued a notice on May 28 and gave three days time to people who were living illegally in the locality and evacuate the places.

Meanwhile, VMC Commissioner H S Patel said the situation has been brought under control and the demolition was being carried out as planned.

According to the other VMC officials say that notice was served on May 28 and VMC officials yesterday visited the spot to check the situation. It was found that none of residents had evicted the places. Hence, VMC was forced to carry out the demolition drive.