The Pioneer 27.09.2010
MCD gives a week to vacate unauthorised settlements in DoonPNS | Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun has given residents of unauthorised settlements in some areas one week’s time to vacate their dwellings. If the residents fail to vacate the area, the MCD will demolish the encroachments after one week.
According to information received from official sources, additional Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (AMNA) Harak Singh Rawat visited various locations in the Rajpur Road and Sahastradhara Road areas where MCD land is being encroached by people living in unauthorised settlements.
It is pertinent to mention that the waterlogging caused by heavy rains in Dehradun during the past two months had placed residents of unauthorised settlements, especially along the banks of the Rispana, Bindaal and small nullahs, at risk from landslide and other natural calamities.
However, the MCD and other authorities concerned were occupied with other works during the peak rainy season due to which little attention was paid to those encroaching on MCD land unless they were facing danger due to the heavy rainfall and resulting disasters.
During the weekend, AMNA Harak Singh Rawat along with MCD officials inspected areas along Rajpur Road and Sahastradhara Road to gauge the level of encroachment in these areas.
The AMNA found substantial number of families living in unauthorised settlements in the Bhramawala Khala area along Sahastradhara Road and in sites including the area behind Scholar’s Home school, Barighat area and Kandoli along the Rajpur Road.
The MCD has warned the residents of unauthorised settlements in these locations to vacate the area within a week, and if they fail to vacate the sites the MCD will take action to clear the area of encroachments.
It is pertinent to note that a substantial proportion of land owned by MCD is presently under encroachment by unauthorised structures utilised for both commercial and residential purposes.
The MCD has continued to undertake periodic campaigns to remove such encroachments with limited effect as the sites cleared of encroachments are covered by the same a short time after being cleared.
It remains to be seen whether the MCD is able to clear encroachments after the end of the one-week period accorded to residents of unauthorised settlements to vacate the site.
