Over 6,000 slum residents in Chandigarh face demolition, ET RealEstate
CHANDIGARH: Once again, residents of a slum in Chandigarh will lose their houses as the administration carries out a major demolition drive to reclaim six acres of land in Industrial Area, Phase 1 on Wednesday. The administration’s effort to go “slum-free” has evoked strong reactions from people who call the hutments their home.
Slated for demolition, Sanjay Colony in Industrial Area, Phase-1, is a bustling cluster of 6,000 people living in 1,200 hutments. The land, which belongs to the UT engineering department, is estimated to be worth more than Rs 200 crore.
A total of 10 teams have been constituted for the drive, for which 1,000 police personnel have been deployed to quell disruption from residents being evicted. Two sub-divisional magistrates and five duty magistrates will also be part of the drive, during which the deputy commissioner (DC) and senior superintendent of police (SSP) will be present.
“To ensure safety of people being evicted from the site, civil defence teams will be present. Ambulances and paramedics have also been deputed at the site for the duration of the drive,” said DC/estate officer Nishant Kumar Yadav.
‘What can poor people do?’
Opposing the eviction and demolition, residents of Sanjay Colony staged a protest and blocked the road in front of the colony for nearly three hours. They removed the blockade after the police and SDM assured them that their concerns would be considered.
A resident, Deepak Kumar, said, “While some people have been able to arrange alternative housing, many have failed to get rented houses. We are particularly concerned about families having girl children but what can poor people do? We have to shift as our houses will be demolished. All we requested was for some more time so that we could arrange alternative accommodation.”
‘Fair opportunity given’
The estate office organised a camp for residents to submit their papers to be eligible for housing under slum rehabilitation schemes. “Around 40 persons came to the camp claiming that they were eligible for rehabilitation housing. However, none of them could submit requisite documents or substantiate their claims. Earlier also, the administration, as per the directions of the Punjab and Haryana high court, gave colony dwellers an opportunity to put their claims forward. After such hearings, the administration finally decided to remove encroachments from the land,” said a senior UT official.
The administration conducted a biometric survey in 2005-2006 in slum areas of the city with the aim of relocating eligible residents. The survey included collection of thumb impressions, photographs and voter identity cards of residents seeking rehabilitation, besides physical verification. To be eligible for alternative housing, residents had to prove that they had been living in the colony at the time of the survey and also continuous residency in Chandigarh thereafter until allotment.
Making city slum-free
The administration aims to make the city slum-free. The last major slum demolition drive was undertaken in May, 2022, when the city’s largest slum cluster at the time, Colony Number 4, was demolished. In the process, the administration vacated around 65 acres of govt land, estimated to be worth Rs 2,000 crore.
Colony Number 4 housed around 10,000 people, who lived in over 2,500 shanties built over the past 50 years. Of these, 3,000 families were rehabilitated. Thereafter, the only major slum clusters left in the city are Sanjay Colony and Janta Colony. After the demolition drive of Sanjay Colony, the administration plans to demolish Janta Colony in Sector 25 within the next 15 days.
Razing of Sanjay Colony
—Sanjay Colony in Industrial Area, Phase-1, has 1,200 hutments with a population of 6,000
—A total of 10 teams have been constituted for the drive
—Total 1,000 police personnel have been deployed to quell disruption from residents being evicted
—Two sub-divisional magistrates and five duty magistrates will also be part of the drive, during which DC and SSP will be present
‘Only wanted time’
While some people have been able to arrange alternative housing, many have failed to get rented houses. We are particularly concerned about families having girl children but what can poor people do? We have to shift as our houses will be demolished. All we requested was for some more time so that we could arrange alternative accommodation
Deepak Kumar | Area resident
‘Papers not submitted’
Around 40 persons came to the camp claiming that they were eligible for rehabilitation housing. However, none could submit requisite documents or substantiate their claims. Earlier also, the administration, as per directions of the Punjab and Haryana high court, gave colony dwellers an opportunity to put their claims forward. After such hearings, the administration finally decided to remove encroachments from the land.
