The Siliguri Municipal Corporation, along with city police, carried out a drive on Tuesday against encroachment on certain stretches along the Mahananda river.

The drive was carried out in wards 2 and 3 of the SMC and over 20 illegal huts and shanties, which had mushroomed on the riverbank, were cleared. The occupants of the illegal structures had been served notices before the crackdown.

Extensive police deployments were made at localities like South Baghajatin Colony, Gurungbusty and Nayabusty during the drive.

The National Green Tribunal had issued specific instructions to the state administration and the SMC to keep the Mahananda clean and free from encroachments. The drive was a part of the initiative to keep the river clean, civic sources said.