The Indian Express 21.11.2013
Demolition drive: TV, fridge, microwave form part of belongings of EWS colony residents
As demolition started at Colony Number 5, the residents could be seen taking carts and mini-trucks loaded with a variety of items including electronic goods making an exodus towards other areas. While those who have been allotted houses at the rehabilitation colony at Dhanas started taking possession of the houses, the remaining looked for alternative accommodations.
Colony Number 5 was among the most populated colonies in the city. Hundreds of people encroached upon the 60 acres and built numerous hutments. A part of the land was removed few years back for construction of a road. The remaining, however, continued to be with the residents.
One-room tenements have been built at Dhanas for the residents of the colonies and they were asked to shift within a month of issuance of allotment letters. Later, a 21 day deadline was also given. As this came to an end on Tuesday, a decision was taken to raze the hutments.
As people packed their belongings, all kinds of items came tumbling out of the hutments. In a colony that essentially houses people from the economically weaker sections, refrigerators, television sets, microwaves and air-conditioners seemed to be possessed by a substantial number the people.
In fact, at the recently allotted houses at Dhanas, massive renovation is being undertaken by the beneficiaries. This is one among the reasons for refusing to shift to the tenements as the work was still underway. The beneficiaries are partitioning the one room allotted to them by constructing a wall in between. Kitchens are being furnished and tiles are being laid.
While some of the beneficiaries have been given the allotment letter, more than a 1,000 are in the waiting list. Their documents were found to be incomplete. They complained that their cases should have been cleared before the demolition was undertaken.
Mohan, one of the beneficiaries said that there was some problem with the papers, due to which, he was running from pillar to post to get possession of the tenement allotted to him in Dhanas. He said that the anomalies should have been taken care of before the demolition.
There were others who had similar tales to narrate. Some complained about the slow pace of work at Chandigarh Housing Board where the documentation has to be completed. Similar complaints were received at the RLA office in Sector 42.
As a large number of residents shifted to Dhanas on Wednesday to take possession of the tenements, chaos was also witnessed there. Officials of the Administration were present at the spot to take stock of the situation. The rehabilitation colony still did not have basic amenities including water supply and electricity. Directions were issued to provide these. Till the cases of those in the waiting list are cleared, alternative arrangements for their accommodation would be made. Many families in Dhanas are ineligible for allotment of houses under the rehabilitation scheme. They were making arrangements for shifting to adjoining localities.
