Indore | After the death of 36 people due to the collapse of the roof of the stepwell at Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple in Patel Nagar, the district administration and the municipal corporation began removing encroachments on wells. The action on Monday followed identification of such dangerous wells and stepwells in Patel Nagar, Dhekanwala Kuan, Sukhliya and Gadarkhedi.

The removal squad of municipal corporation along with bulldozers and other resources reached the temple around 5.30 am and cleared the encroachments around the stepwell. A heavy police force was deployed. There was some people opposition to this initially.

Corporation staff also removed the encroachment around Dekanwala Kua, covered from above. It is adjacent to a road where several vehicles move.

At Sukhliya, there was encroachment around the water tank area where a slab, placed on the well, was removed and a mesh was placed.

Similarly, a slab over the well on the footpath at Gadra Khedi was removed.

Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava has appealed to the people to inform the authorities about any such encroachment.

Such accidents should not happen: CM

Indore |Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said such incidents like the one here should never ever happen in future. He instructed all District Collectors to identify traditional ancient wells and stepwells and prepare a list. Wells and stepwells covered without filling would not be allowed and boundary walls or fences should be put up.

The Chief Minister was addressing the Collectors virtually from the residence office.

He called for greater vigilance regarding open tube wells. Action should be taken against the officials concerned if there was one on government land and the land owner it on private land.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeks blessings of Acharya Vidya Sagar Maharaj on the occasion of Mahavir Jayati in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh on Monday.