Shimla, Aug 9 - The old practice of making important official announcements by beating drums has once again come alive in the 'Queen of Hills' these days. Civic officials are seen moving around in the markets of Shimla accompanied by dholak or drum beaters, conveying to the people the high court decision on encroachments.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court last week directed the Shimla municipal corporation to launch a drive to clear all encroachments in the city markets, including the Mall.

'Sometimes the official announcements made through other channels go unnoticed. This is the best way as compared to other methods,' Municipal Commissioner A.N. Sharma told IANS.

'We are asking the shopkeepers to remove all encroachments on their own. We want that all the encroachments should be removed within a time frame,' he said.

Nafisa Khan, a tourist from Mumbai, said: 'It's interesting to see that local authorities are still hinging on the practice prevalent during the rule of Kings and the British.'

Her husband remarked: 'It is really refreshing to take a stroll in streets of the city amidst beats of drums.