Encroachments by Ludhiana MC staff, kin removed

Encroachments by Ludhiana MC staff, kin removed

Encroachments by Ludhiana MC staff, kin removed

Ludhiana : The Municipal Corporation (MC) here today conducted an anti-encroachment drive against the slums and houses that had come up on a piece of land near Nehru Rose Garden.

The affected dwellers claimed that they had been staying on this land for the past 40-50 years and no prior information was given to them about today’s demolition drive.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the cold wave, about 250 persons, including children and elderly, were displaced when their houses/slums were dismantled. They blamed leaders of different political parties for often visiting their area for seeking votes at the time of elections, but nobody came to help them when their houses were being demolished this morning.

Meanwhile, questions are being raised over the role of government departments concerned as to how facilities had been earlier provided to these people if they had been staying on an encroached land. Now, these people are forced to stay on road along with their articles, including beds, utensils, documents and other goods at this time of the winter season.

A group of dwellers said, “We had been living here for decades. We were provided ration cards, aadhaar cards and voter cards with residential address of this land where our houses/slums were located. We were provided electricity connections too. Moreover, the MC provided us facilities of water supply, sewerage system and constructed road here. Earlier, our families were allowed to settle on this land, but now we have been deserted.”

A dweller Mahesh said, “When notices were issued to us in 2019, we had then met Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu and other elected representatives and they had assured us that no action will be taken against our houses. We continued living here after getting their assurance. My family had been living here since 1970, but now we are homeless as our house was demolished today. If any prior information about this action was given to us, we could make the required arrangements.”

A resident Rakhi Rai said, “I did not go to job today as I was ill. Suddenly, MC officials, along with a huge police force, reached here and directed us to vacate the land within 30 minutes. I had not even prepared breakfast. We were forced to vacate our house. It is injustice with us. Politicians used to visit here for votes, but they failed to help us today.”

Sushila Devi was crying when her slum was being demolished today. She said, “Our elected representatives MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Councillor Gurpreet Gogi did not come to hear our voice today when our houses were being demolished.”

Devi further said, “Where should I go with my family, including a six-month-old baby now? We have been forced to come on road at this time of the winter season. Actually, there is no government for poor people.”

Councillor Gurpreet Gogi said, “The MC did not provide any prior information to me about today’s demolition drive. When the government says the poor should be rehabilitated, the MC displaced these very people today. It was the responsibility of the MC to ensure the rehabilitation of these people before demolishing their houses at this time of the winter season.”

Assistant town planner Madanjeet Singh Bedi said they had served notices to these people around a year ago, but they had not vacated the land. He said around 75 structures, including houses and slums, on the encroached land were demolished today. Municipal town planner SS Bindra said around an acre of land had been got vacated after removing the encroachments.

Were served notice a year ago: Official

Assistant town planner Madanjeet Singh Bedi said they had served notices to these residents around a year ago, but they had not vacated the land. He said around 75 structures, including houses and slums, on the encroached land were demolished. Municipal town planner SS Bindra said around an acre of land had been got vacated...

‘Politicians failed us’

I did not go to job today as I was ill. Suddenly, MC officials, along with a huge police force, reached here and directed us to vacate the land within 30 minutes. I had not even prepared breakfast. We were forced to vacate our house. It is injustice with us. Politicians used to visit here for votes, but they failed to help us today. — Rakhi Rai, a resident

Was illegal occupation

The allegations levelled by the dwellers are not true. These people had encroached the land and had been living here for a short time not decades. — Balkar Singh Sandhu, Mayor.

TNS