Admn razes ‘illegal’ shanties amid resistance from dwellers, leaders

The administration remained on its toes, handling the situation after about 75 shanties were ‘removed’ from a government land, earmarked for the establishment of a power grid by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) here. A drug disposal inclinator was also proposed to be installed in a portion of the government land.

While the administration claimed that illegal encroachments had been removed and the possession of a major part of land was taken back, the situation turned tense when a senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Chairman of the District Planning Board came to support the dwellers and demanded they be allotted alternative land for their rehabilitation. Following this, the demolition drive was put off for another day.

Malerkotla SDM Harbans Singh said the possession of a piece of land, measuring around one acre and belonging to the Industrial Department, had partially been taken by the authorities concerned, whereas some shanties were yet to be removed.

Harbans said the action was taken in compliance with the orders of Malerkotla Deputy Commissioner, who has also called a meeting for the resolution of the issue.

Accompanied by a large posse of police officials, supervised by SSP Gagan Ajit Singh, senior functionaries of the civil administration had reached the spot to take possession of the land where a large number of families had been living for over three decades.

Ludhiana