The Tribune: Ludhiana: Thursday, December 14, 2017.
In the past
one year and 11 months, the Municipal Corporation authorities have been able to
remove only 11 permanent encroachments from the industrial city.
However,
according to an affidavit submitted by the MC authorities to the High Court,
the total number of permanent encroachments is approximately 4,500. The MC had
claimed that some of these encroachments could not be removed while others have
already moved various courts.
Interestingly,
Contempt Of Court 27 of 2013 regarding the permanent encroachments in the city
is already in the High Court, and yesterday was a hearing date of the case.
According to
the information obtained under the RTI, the MC authorities have given details
that from January 1, 2016, till November 2, 2017, they have been able to remove
11 permanent encroachments from the city.
Three of the
permanent encroachments removed fell under Zone A, while eight others were in
Zone D. As far as Zone B and C are concerned, no permanent encroachment could
be removed in almost two years. The RTI information was sought by Rohit
Sabharwal, who has also filed the COCP 27 of 2013 in the High Court.
The first PIL
regarding these permanent encroachments was filed in the High Court in 2003
(CWP 4886) and the Court had asked the MC authorities to remove the illegal
structures. But since nothing was done, several persons came forward to file
COCP, following which the cases were clubbed under one COCP- 1299 of 2009.
Again in January 2012, the High Court issued orders to remove the
encroachments, but in vain and another COCP 27 of 2013 was filed.
It is not
easy to remove permanent encroachments in the city for the simple reason that
politicians’ vote bank is involved. Politicians, cutting across the party
lines, support the encroachers who tend to form their vote bank. Because of
this reason, permanent encroachments in Chaura Bazar have not been removed till
date. And when authorities tried to act tough against violators, they had to
face the wrath of protestors, political leaders, etc. The lackadaisical
attitude of the authorities, interference of political leaders, religious
sentiments, vested interests of the staff of the MC are major reasons that
permanent encroachments will never be removed from city.