Hyderabad: As part of the Swachh Hyderabad initiative Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in association with Hyderabad police initiated drive against footpath squatters. It started removing encroachments on footpaths. Nine persons were sent to jail for three days by a local magistrate for encroaching pavements. A penalty of Rs. 2500 was imposed upon each of them.
During the first phase of the drive Mahankali, Gopalpuram, SR Nagar, Panjagutta, Abids, Narayanguda, Chikkadpally, Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills areas were covered
30 cases were booked and the violators were produced before the magistrate. The convicts were imprisoned at Chanchalguda jail.
GHMC commissioner B Janardhan Reddy asserted that the drive would continue till all footpaths are cleared of encroachments. Stringent action will be taken against repeat offenders.