Huda move puts them under house arrest

The administration's anti-encroachment drive has rid the city of illegal occupants, but for senior citizens in Sector 17, the move comes as a home arrest.

The administration's anti-encroachment drive has rid the city of illegal occupants, but for senior citizens in Sector 17, the move comes as a home arrest.

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The Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) on Wednesday removed pavements, trees and sewer lines in front of houses in the area. Seniors, some of them battling cancer, have been denied easy access to their own homes as the area has been dug up, leaving a gap of nearly 2 feet at the entrance some points.

In a shocking case of apathy, Lila Saini, a cancer patient, was told to clear things placed at the gate of her house by the demolition team officials.

"They were rude. They asked me to remove things near the gate. I can't move my own body, how will move another object? I cried for hours. It is better that I die than deal with such merciless people," Saini said.

"At the age of 80, they can't jump or climb. They even cut trees that Huda itself had planted 15 years ago. They just chopped them without any notice," said Azad Singh, a retired district excise and taxation commissioner.

“The trucks just came in, tore apart everything and left. We were not given any notice to make alternative arrangements. How will we go out? Who will help us again and again," said Tripta Duggal.

At the age of 80, Joginder Singh is a cancer patient and depends on a wheel chair.

"We depend on the mercy of others. No one can understand what we are going through," he said.