Despite HC orders, encroachments stay put in Labour Colony

Following several complaints, the municipal corporation has located more than a hundred unauthorized residential structures in Labour Colony near the Kochar market. Though most of these encroachments have existed there for several years, civic officials did not bother to do anything about it.

Following several complaints, the municipal corporation has located more than a hundred unauthorized residential structures in Labour Colony near the Kochar market. Though most of these encroachments have existed there for several years, civic officials did not bother to do anything about it. A local RTI activist has accused the officials concerned of not taking any action despite the high court’s injunction to the MC to remove all encroachments in the city.

According to some MC officials, a large number of city residents have encroached upon public land to construct bathrooms adjoining their homes while others have illegally built houses on encroached land.
“After I filed several complaints about encroachments in Labour Colony, the civic body belatedly conducted a survey and found at least 103 residents had constructed unauthorized structures in the locality,” said Rohit Sabharwal, president of the Council of RTI Activists. He demanded the MC should move swiftly to raze all the encroachments in compliance with the court order.

SS Bindra, assistant town planner of the MC’s Zone D, said: “We’ll soon issue notices to all the encroachers.”Meanwhile, the civic body plans to renew the drive against illegal structures in the city. “The municipal corporation will carry out another anti-encroachment drive from October 30,” said assistant town planner Kamaljit Kaur, adding the police department had been asked to provide adequate personnel during the operation.