Over 6,000 slum residents in Chandigarh face demolition

                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