Gurgaon: Residents will move court over Khandsa drain-widening project

Huda has to widen 10 metres on each side of the Khandsa drain because of which the residents will have to be displaced

The residents of Khandsa have decided to move district court Gurgaon against the Haryana urban development authority (Huda) as the last resort to save their paternal land and buildings from being acquired for widening the Badshahpur drain.

The residents have opposed the Huda’s offer of compensation and have refused to move to an alternative plot. (HT FILE)

“We have consulted our lawyer in this regard. As advised by him, we will wait for the Huda to decide their next course of action. If we get notice from the Huda to vacate our house and shift to a place of their choice, we will move court,” said Rajkumar Fauji, a resident, adding that the Huda has identified alternate plots in barren areas at Sector 37 C without ensuring the provision of basic infrastructure.

Fauji said, “There is no sewer, water, road, electricity in that area and the authority is forcing us to accept the offer letters and shift urgently since it is under pressure from the government to check waterlogging at Hero Honda Chowk on NH-8 before the monsoon arrives. Besides, the assessment of compensation by the officials is also not done properly.”

A part of the city’s 40 km long storm water drain, the Badshahpur drain narrows to 10 metres in Khandsa. The Huda has to widen it by 10 metres on each side at the cost of displacing several families.

Rambir Singh, whose three storey building on a plot measuring 625 square yards has been identified for demolition by the Huda, said. “We have tried our best to convince the district administration, including deputy commissioner (DC) Hardeep Singh and Huda administrator Yashpal Yadav and others, but they are not willing to help us.”

Read I Gurgaon: Khandsa residents refuse to vacate land for drain-widening

Sanjiv Singla, estate officer (EO-I), Huda, said, “We are working as per the direction of the government and need them to vacate their houses for widening the drain. There is no other alternative. We have tarted releasing the compensation amount to them, as we have to complete the work before monsoon arrives.”