Twice cursed: First cheated by land mafia, Khori dwellers now rendered homeless
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service
Faridabad, July 16
The dwellers of illegal colony at Khori village have been hit by double whammy. First they were tricked by the land mafia into “purchasing” government land and now the houses they built with life savings are being bulldozed after a Supreme Court order.
While the migrants, settled here from Bihar, UP, West Bengal and other states, have nowhere to go, the land mafia who allegedly duped them continue to roam scot-free. The police have lodged 25 FIRs, but only the land mafia employees who signed plot purchase agreements have been named. They too are learnt to have fled elsewhere long ago, said sources.
“The FIRs have been registered against property dealers for selling land to unsuspecting customers and hiding the fact no construction can take place here,” said Sube Singh, police PRO. Located at the tail-end of the Aravallis on the Haryana-Delhi border, the settlements, spread over 172 acres, are learnt to have started in the late 1980s.
Initially a mining hub, Khori emerged into a densely populated colony over the decades, thanks to the land mafia that allegedly enjoyed political patronage. “The migrants were sold plots for Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 initially, with a monthly instalment of Rs 1,000. All the settlers got was a note written on simple paper and signed by the land mafia employees, who claimed the sale deed couldn’t be registered as the plot size was too small,” said Subhash Sharma, a Faridabad resident. “Migrants settled here to work as mine labourers. The land mafia sold plots measuring 50 sq yards to them, showing the land as ‘gair mumkin pahad’ (uncultivable wasteland),” said Sharma. Sources said some influential politicians in neighbouring Delhi too played a role in the flourishing of the colony as they facilitated illegal power and water connections.
Admitting that 45 connections were given several years ago, DHBVN Superintending Engineer Naresh Kakkar said these were disconnected after the Supreme Court ordered demolition of the illegal structures. There was no rule to deny power connections in unauthorised colonies, he pointed out.
Regarding power supply from Delhi to Khori, sources claimed such connections across the border were possible due to the alleged involvement of the supply mafia as meters installed were fraudulently shown fitted in Delhi.
“We bought a plot for Rs 2 lakh and spent another Rs 2 lakh on building a house about 10 years ago. Why nobody stopped us then?” said Silvati (58) from Bihar.
Deputy Commissioner Yashpal Yadav said the land fell within the Faridabad Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction. “Being ecologically sensitive, it’s notified under the PLPA Act and any kind of construction here is banned,” he said.
Seema Trikha, MLA from Badkhal, a constituency that comprises Khori, was not available for comment.
