Demolition in Prem Nagar: Ball in the MC court
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 17
With coming up of around 50 encroachments in the Prem Nagar area, near Rose Garden, the ball of the demolition drive is now in the MC’s court.
Police Commissioner RN Dhoke said, “The MC has demanded force from us which it will definitely be provided with.”
The MC will take action against the encroachers any day depending on its will. However, sources said politicians/local leaders were regularly pressurising the MC authorities to allot the land to encroachers.
“Leaders had asked us not to take action against those who are squatting in the area. However, we cannot do much about it as the High Court has directed to get the green belt of the city vacated and submit the report,” said an official of the Building Branch here. “We are soon going to take an action,” he said.
A huge chunk of green belt in the Prem Nagar area was conveniently encroached upon as the MC authorities remained in deep slumber. The matter went to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, following which the MC staff swung into action and many encroachments were removed two years ago. As the MC authorities did not follow-up the matter, neither proper boundary wall was constructed by the authorities, the encroachments burgeoned in the green belt again. Now, over 46 such encroachers have already occupied the green belt, against whom any action is yet to be taken.
