Auction of Panchkula orchard cancelled

Panchkula, July 28

Auction of the 14.55 acre mango orchard in Sector 20 here was cancelled today. The process started at 10 am and it was cancelled by 10.30 am. Officials concerned were not available for comment as this reporter tried to find out the reason for cancelling the auction. The land was offered for developing a group-housing society.

Residents of Sector 20, who staged a protest against the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) outside the orchard today, said, “The mango orchard is the only green cover left in our area. The sector is highly populated and the roads remain choked with traffic all the time. The whole sector, barring the orchard, has been concretised, the reason we want the administration to save it from being chopped.”

The local residents, including dwellers of Group Housing Society 22, 38, 41, 79 and representatives of the Sector 20 market, took part in the protest outside the orchard. They were led by Suncity Parikrama Resident Welfare Association.

Akhil Goel, a local resident said, they urged the administration to save the trees. “We were joined by children from the area as well,” he said.

The residents said they would meet officials of the HSVP and demand a complete halt on auction and development of the orchard land for any purpose.

The land was put to auction for construction of EWS flats earlier also. Officials of the HSVP said no bids were received then.