Aurangabad, June 29:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI, Aurangabad Circle) heaved a sigh of relief as the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) today removed encroachment existing upon 2.5 acres of land, in the vicinity of the heritage mausoleum Bibi ka Maqbara, in the afternoon. The ASI's land was under encroachers for the past many years. The AMC's anti-encroachment squad demolished schools, tin shed, compound wall of concrete slabs, etc, and then handed over the possession of land to the ASI authorities.
The additional commissioner R P Nikam said, " The ASI is having 2.5 acres of land around Maqbara. It was encroached upon by one Jairaj Pande. The superintending archaeologist of ASI (Aurangabad Circle) Milan Kumar Chauley had written a letter to the AMC on May 6, 2021, to the municipal commissioner and pinpointed the urgent need of removing the encroachment. Accordingly, the AMC civic chief and administrator visited the vicinity of the heritage. Later on, the anti-encroachment squad also inspected the location."
There were six kiosks, each of 10x10 square feet area, one tin shed erected on 12x15 square feet area, school built on 9x7 metres area, barbered wire and concrete slab fencings covering huge area etc. The panchanama was done twice in presence of ASI officials and then the AMC served notice to Pande, who then approached the court to evade action. Four hearings were held in connection with the case, but the court did not give him any respite. Accordingly, the AMC anti-encroachment squad reached the site with its JCB, trucks, and other vehicles. All the encroachments existing on 2.5 acres of the ASI's land were removed on Tuesday, said Nikam.
The designated officer Savita Sonawane, R S Rachatwar, Vasant Bhoye, building inspectors P B Gaoli, Surase, Desai, Syed Jamsheed, Mazhar Ali, and police inspector Fahim Hashmi took the action. It may be noted that the AMC squad witnesses strong opposition while removing the encroachment. Hence the women police intervened and pacified the women folks opposing the action.