The demolition of homes near the Baliyanala landslide continued on the third day in Nainital. While the affected families held a protest alleging that they were being shifted to improper dwellings without being served notice, the joint team of district administration, development authority and municipality demolished seven homes on Wednesday. Four affected families were resettled in the homes built under JNNURM in Durgapur.
The team had to face the anger of the affected families. However, the district development authority secretary Harvir Singh placated them by assuring them time to vacate the pucca residences. It should be mentioned that in the first two days of the demolition drive, about one dozen homes were demolished and about three dozen families were relocated. As the locals had heated arguments with the team members, Singh warned them that legal action would be taken against anyone hampering government work.
He explained that the administration was taking this action in view of the impending monsoon season. There was considerable landslide in Baliyanala last year and the same is possible this year too. Considering this, the administration is undertaking demolition of homes threatened by landslide and relocation of families for the safety of the people. In the first phase, only those families are being relocated who are living in homes threatened by landslide. He further explained that currently the pucca buildings are neither being demolished nor are their occupants being relocated.