The GHMC Enforcement Cell today removed 60 shops in Hongkong Bazar of Secunderabad.
Another 150 shops in various other areas were likewise shut down by the cell today, said Vishwajeet Kampati, Director, Vigilance & Enforcement Cell.
The GHMC has taken up a footpath encroachment removal drive in the recent past as part of which more than 6,000 footpaths have been cleared to enable citizens to walk on the footpaths. Some of the encroachments which were removed earlier returned, and the encroachment cell removed them again imposing heavy penalties this time. The shops that encroached again even after the footpaths were cleared were fined Rs. 10,000. So far around Rs 5 lakhs have been collected through such fines.
The GHMC officials have announced that if anybody encroaches repeatedly, severe action would be taken against them including their trade licenses being cancelled and criminal cases being filed against them.