The Indian Express              18.06.2013

HUDA issues notices to Panchkula shops with unauthorised construction

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.