Traders vented anger against the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Dehradun, dubbing it wrong on the part of the administration. They said that it was the administration which allowed the so-called encroachers to occupy public spaces in violation of the law for decades. A section of the common people residing in the city also raised the same question, pointing to the connivance of the administrative and police officers and some politicians to the illegal structures having coming up over the years while some whole-heartedly supported the drive, projecting a mixed picture of common people’s reaction.
The commuters who are inconvenienced due to the suddenly announced route diversions during the time the demolition work is on sounded annoyed. Meanwhile, the demolition drive continued on Monday.
Talking to The Pioneer, some traders who are being affected by the ongoing anti-encroachment campaign said that they have been trading from the places now marked as encroachment for around two decades. “Now all of a sudden we have been branded as encroachers and the administration is razing down the structures as part of the court-ordered drive. We are not questioning the court order. But we are definitely wondering why we have been allowed to encroach upon public spaces for so long a time,” said a trader based on Haridwar Road who has part of his shop razed down by the drive.
Another said that they supported the administration’s decision to go for beautification and widening of the roads after the anti-encroachment drive is completed. “But at the same time, the administration must do something to appropriately rehabilitate us as it is a crisis of our livelihood,” he said.
The common refrain running among the affected traders is that the current drive is just a prelude to the smart city project the Government is all set to embark on. “But the humane problem, the problem of our rehabilitation, can hardly be overlooked,” a trader said.
Ankit Rawat, a college student, when asked about how he felt over the current drive, said that he fully supported the high court ruling. “Of course, the encroachment being removed would free the roads of the squatters, easing traffic movement and that would please all- the residents and the tourists alike. It is not the Government’s duty to rehabilitate the encroachers,” he said.
Striking a different note, Sonia, a commuter, said that some of her neighbours who shops at the places have marked for demolition are now deeply worried. “They have approached politicians, but the politicians refused to do anything, given the HC order. However, I would support the drive if the administration initiates action against the illegally built big constructions which have come up across the city over the years. There should not be double standards when it comes to enforce the law against encroachment of public space,” she said.