Of 4,500 encroachments, just 11 razed in two years

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 13

In the past one year and 11 months, the Municipal Corporation authorities have been able to remove only 11 permanent encroachments from the industrial city.

However, according to an affidavit submitted by the MC authorities to the High Court, the total number of permanent encroachments is approximately 4,500. The MC had claimed that some of these encroachments could not be removed while others have already moved various courts.

Interestingly, Contempt Of Court 27 of 2013 regarding the permanent encroachments in the city is already in the High Court, and yesterday was a hearing date of the case.

According to the information obtained under the RTI, the MC authorities have given details that from January 1, 2016, till November 2, 2017, they have been able to remove 11 permanent encroachments from the city.

Three of the permanent encroachments removed fell under Zone A, while eight others were in Zone D. As far as Zone B and C are concerned, no permanent encroachment could be removed in almost two years. The RTI information was sought by Rohit Sabharwal, who has also filed the COCP 27 of 2013 in the High Court.

The first PIL regarding these permanent encroachments was filed in the High Court in 2003 (CWP 4886) and the Court had asked the MC authorities to remove the illegal structures. But since nothing was done, several persons came forward to file COCP, following which the cases were clubbed under one COCP- 1299 of 2009. Again in January 2012, the High Court issued orders to remove the encroachments, but in vain and another COCP 27 of 2013 was filed.

It is not easy to remove permanent encroachments in the city for the simple reason that politicians’ vote bank is involved. Politicians, cutting across the party lines, support the encroachers who tend to form their vote bank. Because of this reason, permanent encroachments in Chaura Bazar have not been removed till date. And when authorities tried to act tough against violators, they had to face the wrath of protestors, political leaders, etc. The lackadaisical attitude of the authorities, interference of political leaders, religious sentiments, vested interests of the staff of the MC are major reasons that permanent encroachments will never be removed from city.