Huda told to remove encroachments, develop Sec 17 market

After waiting for nearly two decades, the residents of Sector 17-B finally have a reason to cheer.

After waiting for nearly two decades, the residents of Sector 17-B finally have a reason to cheer.

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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) to remove encroachments from the site in their locality and develop a market place for the general public.

In the absence of a market place, residents had to visit market places far from their area to buy household products.

Nearly 550 families had been building pressure on Huda to clear the status of the land (Plot 77A). The land, located along the dividing road of Sector 17-18, has been taken over by some local residents, who claim its ownership.

The high court has asked Huda to verify the allegations of land encroachment by the residents welfare association (RWA) of Sector 17-B, which had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the court in May 2012, seeking directions to Huda to develop a market place at the site.

According to the RWA, the court took cognizance of their allegation that Huda had turned a blind eye while encroachments took place at the site which had been earmarked for a market place.

“In 2000, we had held a meeting with the then Huda administrator Anurag Aggarwal. We've also submitted the details of the meeting wherein the administrator had assured us that the market place would be developed at the site. Since then, we have held various meetings with all the successive Huda administrators and estate officers (EOs),” said Surinder K Dutt, an executive member of the RWA.

The court has directed Huda to remove encroachments, if any, and develop the market if it was planned in the layout of the town planning department, Gurgaon.

“Yes, the court has asked us to verify the status of the land. We have sought the help of the town planning department in this regard. Until we have a clear status report, it would be inappropriate to comment,” said Narender Yadav, estate officer (EO), Huda.

Meanwhile, the move will benefit nearly 1,500 residents of the locality.