Despite High Court orders, illegal structures coming up on AIT land

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 5

Despite the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordering to demolish illegal buildings constructed by encroachers in the Kabir Park area, new constructions have started coming up on the same land of Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) illegally.

Kirpal Singh Randhawa, who had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2008 in this regard, alleged that the officials of AIT have not demolished illegal construction from Kabir Park so far. He had then filed a contempt of court in this regard in 2017.

“The delaying attitude of the AIT officials encourages encroachers for illegal construction at Kabir Park. Now, a person is constructing shops on the land of AIT. There must be some political involvement. People use their influence to encroach the land. I have complained to the AIT for action against illegal construction,” Randhawa said.

When contacted, Rajiv Sekhri, Superintending Engineer, AIT, said: “The matter in our knowledge. I have asked the officer concerned to take action in this regard.”

Randhawa claimed that the AIT had acquired the land from farmers for the township but the vacant area had been encroached upon by influential persons. After the PIL by Randhawa, the AIT vacated a major chunk of land on court orders.

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