2.5 acres of Khadki Cantonment Board encroached, claims activist

Plot number 21 in survey number 196 on Field Marshal General Cariappa road has been encroached upon

In a press conference held at Patrakar Bhavan on Saturday, Joseph Demelo, a social activist and retired army veteran alleged that the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) has turned a blind eye towards the encroachment on 2.5 acres of plot 21 in survey number 196.

According to Demelo, 30 illegal houses were built on land which comes under KCB’s jurisdiction. (HT/PHOTO)

Demelo said,“Plot number 21 in survey number 196 on Field Marshal General Cariappa road has been encroached upon. Many residents use this defence land for personal purposes. I have approached the KCB, multiple times to address the issue and have received no response from them so far. Hence, I have written letters to the defence ministry and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking help.”

According to Demelo, 30 illegal houses were built on a plot of 2.5 acres which comes under KCB’s jurisdiction. In the press conference, Demelo stated that, if the KCB fails to remove the encroachment, he will go on a strike in front of the KCB headquarters.

However, resident Sadanand Dudhe, refuted these allegations and said that they have not encroached upon KCB’s land. “We have been living here since the past 100 years. We are members of the second generation of the family which currently occupies the house. We are living here peacefully. Why should someone approach the civic body against us?” asled Dudhe.

Amol Jagtap, chief executing officer (CEO), KCB, said,“Plot number 21 in survey number 196 is not under our jurisdiction. In fact, it is a defence property. So, we have limited rights regarding encroachment on that plot. For more details about the said property, the activist should contact the defence ministry.”