A councillor of the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun has been accused of facilitating encroachment in return for money in the Kedarpur area on Friday.

Even as the Mayor has ordered an inquiry into the allegations, the case has elicited focus on the role of public representatives and politicians in facilitating encroachments in the State Capital. It will be recalled that on Monday and Tuesday, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun had demolished more than 50 shacks believed to have been erected during the Deepawali holidays in the Deepnagar ward.

Some of the encroachers later alleged that the Ward Councillor lalilt Bhadri had taken money from them to facilitate construction of the shacks. The Councillor on his part has denied the allegations and averred that this was an attempt to defame him.

Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli has ordered an inquiry into the allegations while stressing that action will be initiated against the person found guilty. However, observers point out that irrespective of the findings of the inquiry into this case, some politicians and public representatives are known to have either facilitated encroachments and creation of slums in the State capital or are preventing such constructions from being demolished. Municipal officials also acknowledge that often anti-encroachment drives are hampered by influential politicians with political or financial interests.

Observers opined that the authorities themselves cannot take effective action to remove encroachments and ensure that these do not re-occupy the vacated land as long as political interference continues. Political interference stalling anti-encroachment drives in Dehradun has been witnessed on various occasions in the past. It remains to be seen whether the State Government acts as desired to redress this anomaly.