Major Crackdown in Surat After Viral Drug Video and BJP MLA's Letter
The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) initiated a significant anti-encroachment operation on Friday, targeting the area beneath the extensive Varachha flyover. This decisive action led to the demolition of numerous illegal structures and the eviction of over 250 individuals who had been residing there in makeshift tents.
The Triggers: A Viral Video and a Political Letter
The drive was set in motion by two key events. Firstly, AAP leader Vishal Vasoya, who is also a member of the NGO Gaurav Samithi, posted a concerning video on social media just two days prior. The footage showed a young boy, allegedly selling ganja (marijuana) from a bed positioned directly under the flyover. The video, which was widely circulated, clearly depicted several people purchasing the drug in small plastic pouches, with some youths seen purportedly smoking it in the same area.
Secondly, acting on the public outcry, BJP MLA Kishor Kanani, who represents the Varachha Road constituency, sent an open letter to the authorities on Thursday. The letter was addressed to Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agrawal and Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut.
In his communication, Kanani highlighted the rampant illegal drug activities and encroachments along the approximately 7-kilometre stretch below the flyover, from the Suryapur railway culvert to the Sarthana check post. He detailed that besides residential settlements, the area was being used to park JCB machines, trucks, and tempos. The MLA emphasized that despite numerous complaints from locals and social organizations, no concrete action had been taken previously. He demanded a permanent solution and a written reply on the timeline for the action.
The Day-Long Anti-Encroachment Drive
Responding promptly to the letter, officials from the SMC Varachha zone collaborated with the Surat police to launch the drive. Throughout the day, they systematically cleared the encroachments, loading the debris onto 10 trucks. The eviction of the 250-plus residents from their tented accommodations under the bridge was a major part of the operation.
An official from the SMC's Varachha zone confirmed the action, stating, "The illegal encroachments below the flyover and in the road divider at Vallabhacharya road in Varachha have been removed. We have received a complaint and acted on it. We will ensure that the area is free from encroachment in future."
This crackdown underscores the power of social media and political pressure in prompting civic action against long-standing issues of public nuisance and illegal occupation.
