Over 6,000 slum residents in Chandigarh face demolition
4/23/2025 10:27:00 AM
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.
Source : Times of India
INDIA
