Indian Express 27.08.2009
GMADA to remove another slum
The greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) served a notice on Wednesday to remove another slum area in Mohali. Nearly 400 slum dwellers, illegally inhabiting in around 50 hutments of Guru Nanak Colony for the past 16 years have been asked to voluntarily vacate prime land in Phase-I here within two days, GMADA Sub-Divisional Officer (Buildings) Santosh Kumar Bains told Newsline.
An enforcement team of GMADA visited the colony to pull down the illegal encroachments but in the absence of adequate police protection, the team leader decided to serve the notice instead of going ahead with the demolition drive.
“There were a large number of women in the colony, who were ready to resist the anti-encroachment drive, but we did not have female cops to tackle them in case of trouble arising in the operation,” reasoned Bains.
The slum colony was razed way back in 1993 but it again resurfaced in the absence of any follow-up action to utilise the vacated area. The slum dwellers later approached the court to seek rehabilitation
“Till now, we remained under the impression that slum dwellers had procured a stay order from the court against their uprooting but after seeking legal advice, it came to our knowledge that there was no legal hitch in removing the slums,” revealed a GMADA official.
Meanwhile, GMADA did remove the temporary encroachments in the form of police pickets and security tents on the land meant for roads, green belts and parks for security forces today, in Phase VI, 3B1, VII and Sector 70 and 71 here.
“Till now, we remained under the impression that slum dwellers had procured a stay order from the court against their uprooting but after seeking legal advice, it came to our knowledge that there was no legal hitch in removing the slums,” revealed a GMADA official.
Meanwhile, GMADA did remove the temporary encroachments in the form of police pickets and security tents on the land meant for roads, green belts and parks for security forces today, in Phase VI, 3B1, VII and Sector 70 and 71 here.
