Angered over the notice issued by Nagar Nigam for the removal of all the structures that were raised on the land owned by the corporation behind the Bhalla Inter College and also in Tibdi area, some ex-employees of the Nagar Nigam gheraoed the State Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik on Wednesday.
Notably, the two-room flats given to the retired employees of the municipal corporation had been later extended into lands owned by the municipal corporation. The minister assured the angry residents in the presence of the city mayor Manoj Garg who arranged the meeting that the anti-encroachment drive would be conducted in line with the laid-down norms and none would be displaced in violation of the norms.
Notably, the Nagar Nigam has given three days for the people residing in Tibdi and in the unauthorised colony behind Bhalla College to vacate well before the unauthorised structures are demolished.
One of such persons who would be affected by the proposed demolition drive, Manisha Barthwal said that it would be inhumane to have the houses demolished. “With winter approaching, where would we go along with our kids and the elderly members of the familiesIJ The plight of those whose houses have been earlier razed is pitiable. They are spending nights under the sky,” she said, adding that the district administration and the municipal corporation must rehabilitate the ex -Nagar Nigam employees who would thus be displaced.
However, Kaushik sounded determined to go ahead with the proposed drive, though he affirmed at the same time that the government has no intention of uprooting anyone. “The district administration and the Nagar Nigam must follow certain rules while launching the drive,” the minister said. He also assured that the displaced would be given the benefit of residential welfare schemes.