On High Court orders, unauthorised structures razed in Karnal

Karnal, February 27

In compliance with the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) carried out a demolition drive in Valmiki Basti in Sector 12 (Part-II) here today, under which over 20 structures were razed. A similar drive was carried out in September and July last year.

Basti residents had not moved out

• The High Court had, in 2012, ordered the removal of these structures and rehabilitation of the people living in Valmiki Basti
• The administration had conducted a survey and found 226 families eligible for rehabilitation
• Thereafter, the HSVP got the flats constructed, but the residents refused to shift there citing space crunch
• Later, plots were given to these families. While some families have shifted there, some were reluctant

Dharambir, XEN, HSVP, said under the supervision of Estate Officer (EO) Jaspal Gill, officials of the HSVP, including Sub-Divisional Engineer Subhash Sharma, Junior Engineer Abhishek and others, with the help of the police demolished these structures. He claimed several notices had been sent prior to the move. Satyawan Dhilorh, District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO), was the Duty Magistrate and Vishnu Mitar, SHO, Civil Lines, was stationed there with heavy police force. Some people tried to oppose the move, but the police stopped them.

“Around seven persons have a stay from the local court. We will raise our point of view in the court to get these plots vacated soon,” the XEN said.

The XEN said the High Court had, in 2012, ordered the removal of these structures from the site and rehabilitation of the people living in Valmiki Basti. Following the High Court’s directions, the administration had conducted a survey and found 226 families eligible for rehabilitation. Thereafter, the HSVP got constructed 264 flats in Sector-14 (II) at a cost of Rs 14.85 crore in 2016 under the Ashiana Scheme, but the residents refused to shift there citing space crunch.

Later, the HSVP had provided 50-sq yard plots to around 226 families in Sector-16 to rehabilitate them. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had laid the foundation stone of this project on September 23, 2018. Some families have shifted there, but some are still reluctant.