Encroachments removed

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10

The enforcement staff of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) today removed saw mills from a land earmarked for the self-financing housing scheme of 200 two-bedroom flats in Sector 51.

The drive was carried out despite a protest from saw mill owners who claimed that the CHB removed them even as their case was pending in the court. The team, led by in charge of the enforcement wing Sunil Malik, took over three hours to remove the saw mill owners who have been occupying the land for more than 30 years.

The CHB swung into action after residents of Sector 51 moved the High Court against the decision of the board for starting the construction of the 200 flats under the housing scheme launched in April 2016 in a park. The court has issued notices to the Administration and the CHB on the petition filed by the residents.

The CHB changed the layout of the scheme after it failed to remove the saw mills owners occupying the land where the scheme was floated. The decision of the CHB for the construction of the flats in the park was opposed by the residents.

SS Bhardwaj, chairman, Chandigarh Social Welfare Council, said they welcome the decision for removing the encroachment as there was no other park for residents except the one where the construction had begun.

He said the park was earmarked in the scheme launched in 2010.

One of the saw mill owners, Mangat Ram, alleged that the action of the CHB was illegal as the case for the land was already in the court.

He said they were removed without providing an alternative space. They suffered a huge loss in the drive as they were even not given time to remove their belongings. No land was given to them despite depositing the entire amount to the Administration.

On the other hand, CHB officials claimed that the saw mills owners were already allotted the land in Sector 38 but they were adamant for land in Sector 39 (West).

The removal has paved the way for the construction of the flats. The scheme is already running late by one-and-a-half year. The construction was not started on time, due to the encroachment. The delay has left allotees of the housing scheme in the lurch as the applicants took loans for making the payments.

The enforcement staff have also removed the encroachment made by residents outside their flats. The hedges and the greenery were removed by the staff as it was planted by the residents on the government land.

Drive carried out despite protest

The drive was carried out despite a protest from saw mill owners who claimed that the CHB removed them even as their case was pending in the court. The team, led by in charge of the enforcement wing Sunil Malik, took over three hours to remove the saw mill owners who have been occupying the land for more than 30 years.