The enforcement wing of the Zirakpur Municipal Council (MC) today carried out an anti-encroachment drive and razed nine illegal commercial buildings near the high grounds boundary wall of the Air Force Station at Bhabat village here. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the razing of illegal structures and prohibited construction within 100 metres of the high grounds.
The MC issued 200 fresh notices to owners of illegal structures.
The MC has also been directed by the court to submit a status report during the hearing on October 16.
Yesterday, the MC had made arrangements for the drive after it served notices on owners of the structures on Friday. A team of the enforcement wing, led by Manvir Singh Gill, Executive Officer (EO), started the drive around noon. To avoid any untoward incident, the police were deployed.
Earlier, tension prevailed in the area as scores of residents and shopkeepers prevented MC officials from demolishing their structures. Area councillor Harpreet Singh lied down before an earth-moving machine. While the owners of the properties, along with residents of the village, protested against the drive, the wife of an owner entered into a scuffle with the police and the enforcement wing staff. The drive was halted for about an hour and a half.
Tempers ran high as several residents alleged that the officials ignored their objections. They demanded that the earth-moving machine should not be used as they had filed a plea in the court against it and the hearing was scheduled for tomorrow.
Charan Das, a retired CRPF employee, rued that he had all legal documents pertaining to the ownership rights of his shop. Das said he had got the map of the shop approved from the MC in 2013 and had obtained permission for its construction. A part of his shop was demolished.
Baljit Singh, another resident, said if it was a restricted area, how did the MC lay sewer and water pipes in the area. If the MC is adamant on its decision, it should acquire land near the IAF boundary wall and give compensation to the affected people, he said.
The MC EO said the razing of illegal establishments would continue as per the norms.“We have just followed the law,” he said.
Politicians fail residents
Last year, during the Assembly elections, candidates of major parties actively campaigned in the area, assuring residents that their structures would not be demolished. Today, no political leader came to their rescue. The residents felt cheated.
Compensation sought
Residents of Bhabat village, who were sent notices for the violation, demanded justice from the MC authorities. Those affected said compensation should be provided to them as they had borne the brunt of the civic body’s inefficiency. Meanwhile, a majority of residents have approached the MC, seeking time to produce documents pertaining to their properties.
