E-Paper
VDA to raze 314 buildings near river banks
THE VARANASI Development Authority (VDA) has identified 314 illegally constructed houses and buildings on the banks of the Ganga. The demolition drive by the VDA would be launched soon.
THE VARANASI Development Authority (VDA) has identified 314 illegally constructed houses and buildings on the banks of the Ganga. The demolition drive by the VDA would be launched soon.
It may be mentioned on the directive of the Allahabad High Court based on a PIL, the VDA had surveyed to identify and demolish houses and buildings constructed illegally after 1998 within a distance of 200 metres from the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi.
VDA secretary RB Singh told Hindustan Times on Wednesday VDA’s survey was in progress and a total 314 houses and buildings were identified in different localities in the adjoining areas of the Ganga.
Singh said the demolition order had been passed for 105 illegally constructed houses and buildings out of a total of 314 identified houses in the adjoining localities of the Ganga. He added maximum houses were identified at newly-constructed Gangotri Vihar colony in Nugwa area.
He said VDA would pursue with District Magistrate of Varanasi, Rajeev Agrawal and Senior Superintendent of Police, Dr GK Goswami, to provide sufficient forces for the demolition drive. He added that the demolition drive of the VDA was dependent on availability of force and demolition drive would be kicked off as soon as the district administration would provide sufficient forces to the VDA.
It may be mentioned the banks of the river within a distance of 200 metres were densely populated and a large number of houses have been built since 1998 here. Following VDA’s survey, local residents of Varanasi at the adjoining areas of ghats have formed a committee to protest against the VDA’s move.
President of the newly-formed Nugwa Sangharsh Morcha, Shri Kant Singh has already alleged the stand of VDA was not clear on some points of the survey and the officers of VDA were misleading the public on the issue of demolition.
