MC carries out demolition drive in DAV College

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 23

High drama was witnessed on Saturday when Municipal Corporation officials, along with police personnel, reached DAV College around 8.30 am to carry out a demolition drive. A total of eight JCB machines were pressed into service.

To lodge their protest against the drive, the college principal, along with some staff members, sat on the ground.

Sanjeev Sharma, principal, DAV College, said, “MC officials dug up the college’s track and demolished the changing room of sportspersons. The land belonged to the college management and despite the matter of its ownership is sub judice, the MC has demolished the property.”

“The entire land was donated to the DAV Mahatma Hansraj Society by the Mata Gonawanti Family Trust in 1956. Till 2009, the land belonged to DAV College. Thereafter, it was acquired by the MC. We have filed a case in the High Court and the matter is in the court,” he added.

On the occasion, the MC officials also carried out an anti-encroachment drive. During the drive, the civic body dug up land near the pond area.

The MC officials told the school management that the drive was initiated in different parts of the city to clean ponds ahead of the rainy season and turn these ponds into recreational places. The officials said they had been instructed by the Finance Minister, Manpreet Singh Badal, to remove encroachments near all pond areas in the city.

The Assistant Town Planner (ATP), MC, Davinder Jaura, said, “During the rainy season, dirty water gets accumulated in ponds, which is a direct invitation to water-borne diseases. The dirty water sometimes gets mixed with potable water as well. After removing encroachments near the ponds in the city, these will be cleaned and beautified. Recreational places for kids, open-air gyms and grounds will be established. Saplings will also be planted near the pond areas to enhance the green cover.”