Demolition drive in airport vicinity put off for 10 days

Our Correspondent
Zirakpur, October 12

The Zirakpur municipal council (MC) has put off the demolition drive near the IAF high grounds boundary wall at Bhabat village for next 10 days.

The civic body had sent eviction notices to owners of illegal structures following a High Court (HC) order on October 8. The affected residents had demanded that the drive be put on hold as they had invested their hard-earned money in purchasing the properties and the buildings were constructed with the approval of the MC.

Many residents have threatened to move the court against the drive, alleging that the civic body failed to follow the norms under the Work of Defence Act, 1903, while carrying out the drive. Following the demolition of nine commercial buildings in the village on October 8, area residents opposed the drive, alleging that the structures were wrongly marked.

The residents have demanded a month’s time to show their property-related papers, including building maps approved by the civic body.

Manvir Singh Gill, Executive Officer, MC, said “The residents have been given time to submit their property-related documents. Only after proper scrutiny of their documents, next course of action would be decided.”.

Acting on the HC order, the enforcement wing of the MC had issued around 300 eviction notices.

Relief sought for affected persons

At an MC house meeting on Friday, local MLA NK Sharma raised the issue of the axing of 19 trees within the jurisdiction of civic body by the Forest Department for the safe landing of aircraft. The trees were planted within 25 metres of the IAF high grounds boundary wall at Bhabat village. The MLA demanded a detailed probe into the matter. He also sought compensation for the residents who received eviction notice from the MC.