The Indian Express 18.06.2013
HUDA issues notices to Panchkula shops with unauthorised construction
over 180 shopkeepers in Old Panchkula for raising their structures in an
unauthorised manner on its land. The HUDA is planning a demolition
drive, but the shopkeepers have resisted the move and are seeking that
they be provided alternate sites before the agency launches the drive.
The shopkeepers on Monday protested at Old Panchkula seeking that
the HUDA reverse its drive. MLA, Panchkula, D K Bansal, who supported
the protesting shopkeepers said that the HUDA has backed down on its
promise to provide the alternate land to the shopkeepers. He said that
the land was earlier acquired by HUDA in 1993 from the local residents
at a very low price following which the government had also issued the
orders that not only the people whose shops were in the area but even
the tenants should be provided alternate land in Sector 20. He said that
the HUDA has failed to abide by the promise and has rather issued the
notices to the shopkeepers.
Bansal said that instead of providing the alternate land to the
shopkeepers, HUDA has issued them the notices this Saturday which he
said was in violation of the rules. “Due to the notices issued by the
HUDA to the residents, people who are living there for last many years
genuinely are also facing the threat,” he said.
However, HUDA officials said that the notices were issued as the
shopkeepers had raised their business establishments unathorisedly.
“Since they had encroached on the government land we have issued notices
to them,” said HUDA Estate Officer, Ashwani Sharma. He added that the
HUDA will go ahead with the demolition drive. Bansal said that the land
was acquired by HUDA for developmental purposes from the residents at a
very nominal rate and some of the residents were paid not more than Rs
1,000, but were assured the alternate land as part of their
rehabilitation on which the government has reneged.
