Donation, demolition drive bring traffic to grinding halt

Members of political parties and voluntary organisations swarmed the roads in the City in their endeavour to collect funds for the hapless victims, on Wednesday. While Youth Congress workers were mobilising funds on M G Road, the City Municipal Council authorities launched encroachment eviction drive on the same road. As a result, traffic on the road went out of gear and pedestrians, motorists were caught in the gridlock.

Youth Congress workers sat under a pendal and sought donations from the public. However, Yuva Vidyarthi Vedike and BJP activists raised funds only the previous day and as such there was no enthusiastic response from the public. People were addressed in Kannada, Urdu and Telugu over public address system. The services of Traffic Police were not available as they were drafted for encroachment clearance drive. The hawkers who had set shop from Prabha Talkies circle to Doodapete circle were all evicted.

Prior information

Police had informed the vendors at 9 in the morning itself. Traffic PSI Sonnappa and staff along with City Municipality Health Inspector Ramesh arrived at the spot by 11.30 am and commenced the operation. The shops which were hindering movement of pedestrians were all cleared.

The vendors were being prior information over microphone as well. Authorities were seen instructing to demolish cement structures constructed by encroaching the footpath.
The vendors, who were at the receiving end, though did not air their opposition, were simmering with resentment. Some were seen comforting themselves that “things would be alright tomorrow.”

However, road users had a harrowing time due to the flurry of activities on the stretch.
The spirit of rushing to the assistance of the fellow countrymen in distress was witnessed on Thursday as well.

Meanwhile, students and lecturers of Government Science College swarmed the roads in the City on Thursday to collect the funds for flood victims.
 More than hundred students and 25 staff went from door to door seeking funds for the fellow countrymen in distress.

 While students collected funds in one part of the city, the activists of CPI(M) staged padayatra from Mekke Circle up to Ammavari pete circle and then up to Srinivaspur toll gate seeking donations.

Several organisations have ventured into the task since the relief operations began.