JAIPUR: The sword of eviction hangs heavy on thousands of encroachers living in residential colonies at the Amanishah Nullah's catchment area with the high court giving three weeks' time to JDA to identify and remove the encroachers and submit a compliance report.

By JDA's estimation there are approximately 3,000 illegal houses in the catchment area.

Manoj Kumar, a resident Kiran Vihar, who recently received a notice from the JDA said, "We are lower middle-class people and have put all our saving to purchase this house. It is not encroachment as we have purchase the house from the housing societies. If the government demolishes our house all four members of my family will be homeless. In absence of rehabilitation plan or compensation we will be on the roads."

The house owners, who received notices from the enforcement team, also alleged that the JDA is partial and determining the centerline of the nullah, which plays a crucial part in determining which colonies which need to be removed. They claimed that properties developed by civic bodies and other influential people were left untouched.

Jagish Chaudhary, an affected house owner and RTI activist claimed that in January, 2008, the last survey to determine the centerline of the nullah was done by the appointment company. However, many changes in the alignment were done on September 12, 2008 by the JDA as the Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB) has allotted land in the catchment area. "In a letter of the RHB written to the UDH department, it was mentioned that as allotments for school, hospital in the catchment area have been made by the board, it is necessary to change the alignment of the nullah. Due to this, many innocent people who purchased houses from the housing societies have to suffer," Chaudhary added.

Residents of Kiran Vihar, Jaganath Puri and other colonies who have purchased houses from the housing societies demanded strict action against the housing societies and JDA officials who have made thousands of poor people homeless. "It's not justified to demolish the poor people's houses as they are not solely responsible. The state government should take strict action against JDA official and housing societies which have done this to mint money," said Vijay Sharma, a resident.

After the HC order, it is also expected that the JDA axe will fall on the slums situated in the catchment area. According to officials of JMC, there are 184 slum areas in Jaipur of which 141 are in JMC area while 42 are in JDA region. Many of the slums are located in catchment areas of Amanishah Nullah.

Meanwhile, the JDA has geared up to carry out a survey and issue notices to illegal constructions. A senior JDA official said, "Various teams comprising an executive engineer, an assistant engineer, a revenue officer and an enforcement officer will be formed. A survey will be done and notice will be issued to houses falling in the catchment area. In the 47-km-long nallah area, encroachment is basically done in 17-km area.