UT gets prime land vacated in Sector 30 amid protest

Tribune News Service  

Chandigarh,  May 17  

A joint  team of the Estate Office and  the Municipal  Corporation removed encroachments  on government land  worth over Rs 9 crore during a drive carried out in Sector 30  today  amid a protest. The  plot, measuring  1,147 sq yards, was in the  possession of the management of Shri  Guru  Ravidas Gurdwara  Management Committee for the past  35 years.    

 While the Administration termed the structure illegal, the gurdwara committee accused officers of removing the  structure without  a notice.

Followers of the gurdwara assembled  in large numbers and  opposed the  action. Pardeep Chhabra,  president,  Chandigarh Congress, also  joined the  protest  and condemned the action. 

The drive was carried out in the presence of the police.  The  protesters also tried to block the road, which was  cleared by the  police. The  protest continued till the  evening. 

Sources said the encroached area was worth Rs 9 crore as  per the  latest policy  announced by the Administration.

In the policy, the Administration has  decided to  allot  the land for institutional purposes through the system of limited auction. 

 Om Parakash  Chopra, president  of the gurdwara management  committee, said the plot was in their possession since  1982. He said they had requested the Administration to allot the plot  to the gurdwara and it was  under consideration  for  long. He  said they  had challenged the order of the Estate Office passed  in January  2017, which turned  down  their  application  to  allot the  land, before the  High  Court. He said the High Court  had directed  the Administration to consider their application afresh. They met  the Secretary, Estate, on April 27  but  before any decision on their application was  taken, the  demolition drive  was carried  out. Chopra  said the protest would continue till they got the  land back.