Chandigarh Administration razes furniture market, reclaims Rs 400-cr land

The UT Administration today pulled down nearly 40-year-old furniture market in Sectors 53-54 here reclaiming 10-12 acres of government land worth nearly Rs 400 crore, which was under illegal occupation by the shopkeepers.

As many as 29 shops in the illegal market were demolished on June 30 last year and the remaining 116 were razed to the ground today. The drive started around 9 am against the scheduled time of 7 am, after giving a two-hour window for the shopkeepers to remove their goods.

To maintain law and order, nearly 1,000 police personnel were deployed at the site during the drive.

The land upon which the shopkeepers were illegally running their business was acquired in 2002.

“The reclaimed land, acquired for the third phase of Chandigarh’s urban expansion, has now been handed over to the Engineering Department for its planned development. The land holds significance for the city’s growth and future infrastructure projects,” said Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav.

The original landowners have been duly compensated in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations, ensuring a fair and transparent acquisition process, he said.

The DC urged all citizens to uphold the city’s planned character and to refrain from unauthorised occupation of public land. He emphasised that such initiatives are essential for Chandigarh’s holistic development and to ensure that public resources are utilised for the greater good of all residents.

Reiterating the Administration’s firm stance against illegal encroachments, the DC said: “All cases of unauthorised occupation of public land will be dealt with strictly, and appropriate measures will continue to be taken to prevent such violations in the future.”

Meanwhile, Surender Singh, a shopkeeper at the furniture market, said he had nearly 18-year-long association with the market. The UT Administration should have rehabilitated them before demolishing their shops, as they had GST numbers and electricity connections, he added.

Land measuring 227.22 acres (114.43 acres of Kajheri village, 69.79 acres of Badheri village and 43 acres of Palsora village) was acquired for the development of the third phase of Sectors 53, 54 and 55 and the original landowners had been awarded compensation as well as enhanced compensation.

The Administration had earlier rejected the demand of the shopkeepers for the allotment of an alternative site, as the land from which they were running their business was acquired in 2002.

On June 22 last year, the Land Acquisition Department had issued a notice to the furniture market, directing the shopkeepers to demolish their shops and vacate the government land within a week.

In response to the notices, a delegation of the Furniture Market Association met the then Deputy Commissioner (DC) Vinay Pratap Singh. After hearing their grievances, the then DC asked them to file their individual replies, failing which demolition would be proceeded ex parte.

Of the total shopkeepers served demolition notices, 116 filed their reply to the Land Acquisition Officer while 29 shops were demolished for failing to do so on June 30, 2024.

The shopkeepers failed to get a stay from the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the matter as the court upheld the Administration’s right to reclaim the land, having already compensated the original landowners.

Congress, AAP condemn demolition

The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) condemned the demolition of the Sectors 53–54 furniture market. City Congress president HS Lucky said the Administration razed the decades-old market, leaving hundreds of shopkeepers devastated and rendering a large number of workers jobless.

Rather than pursuing a humane and consultative process, the Administration opted for abrupt demolition without giving the traders enough time for evacuation, and without making any arrangement for the protection or relocation of furniture.

City AAP president Vijaypal Singh said, “The sudden demolition has shattered the traders who were paying taxes for decades. The government must declare immediate compensation and a structured rehabilitation plan for them.” Sunny Aulakh, AAP general secretary, demanded that all affected traders be allotted space in the proposed bulk market at Sector 56 and compensated for their losses.

29 units were demolished in June last year

June 22, 2024: The Land Acquisition Department serves demolition notices on shopkeepers and ask them to vacate the government land within a week.

June 25: Furniture Market Association meets Deputy Commissioner who asks them to file their individual replies

before June 28.

June 28: As many as 117 shopkeepers file replies.

June 30: At least 29 shops were demolished after the owners failed to file their replies.