Encroachments razed amid resistance in Mohali

A joint team of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), the Municipal Corporation, the police removed encroachments in Phase 11 and Phase 10 amid stiff resistance from property owners today.

The Enforcement Wing had to call in the police at Phase 11 as property owners clashed with the officials.

The drive is being carried out by the civic body and GMADA after Punjab and Haryana High Court’s recent orders. Action continued near the fruit and vegetable market near the residential area for the third day today.

The police maintained law-and-order as temporary structures built by eatery owners were removed today after a prolonged tussle.

In Phase 10, anti-encroachment officials oñ the backside of an immigration office showroom faced parked tipper trucks and trolleys on two ends of the road in a bid to stop earthmoving machinery from reaching there.

“At some places, bouncers manned the area as an intimidating tactics, while at others, cars, scooters were parked in front of the structures to create hurdles,” said an MC official, adding that temporary structures on backside of showrooms were demolished.

“Besides sanitation mess, these gensets cause air pollution directly near the houses,” senior citizens living in the vicinity said.

MC superintendent Mandeep Singh said the anti-encroachment drive will continue.

Mohali Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP, City-2) Harsimran Singh Bal said, “Court orders are being strictly followed and no one will be allowed to create law and order problem in the exercise.”

Owners allege

selective action

Irate property owners said the civic body’s action was a smokescreen with selective action in some places. “They are demolishing the iron mesh only, making sure gensets are not harmed. Does a gensets functioning on the road not count as encroachment” asked a Phase-10 resident.

The anti-encroachment drive has been carried out in the city for the past around 10 days, with structures being removed from Phase 4, Phase 5, and Phase 11 earlier.

The civic body had issued a notice on November 28 to remove encroachments within the next three days of their own or pay the costs. No separate notice would be issued hereafter, the communication had read.