Chaos marks demolition drive in Kalka

In a massive demolition drive today leading to traffic chaos and diversions,the National Highway Authority of India razed nearly 242 illegal structures to ground in Kalka.

In a massive demolition drive today leading to traffic chaos and diversions,the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) razed nearly 242 illegal structures to ground in Kalka. Tension gripped the city as the NHAI men,along with members of the Panchkula administration,decided to go-ahead with the drive amid protests and sloganeering by the residents. The police had to also resort to a mild cane-charge midway during the drive,leading to a three-hour delay.

The drive,which began around 10 am,went on till 4 pm after which the process to remove the rubble on the Kalka road started. We accomplished our task today with the demolition of most of the 242 illegal structures in Kalka. Some old three-four storeyed buildings are left,which would be demolished manually, said Col KP Sharma,Project Director,NHAI. Though things moved smoothly in the first half of the day,resistance by some local leaders later delayed the process by three hours,Sharma added. As our work is nearly over,we would not demand any traffic diversion or protection from the Panchkula administration on Wednesday, said Sharma.

With the demolition bringing in extra land to its kitty,the NHAI has plans lined up for the town. Widening of the city was never on our agenda. But with the removal of encroachment,we would construct footpaths on the entire patch and improve the curb channels and drains in the area. The work would start within a month, said Sharma.

The residents,meanwhile,said they came to know about the demolition drive only through the morning newspapers. They later gathered and tried to stop the JCB machine from carrying out the work and raised slogans against the authorities for demolishing the years old Kalka bazaar.

The drive also ushered in troubled times for schoolchildren who were escorted to a safe place by their teacher keeping in mind the tension in the area. Talking to Newsline,Shobhalata,the teacher of the Government High school,Kalka said: After school hours,we came about the demolition and the protests. We thus took the children to a safer place till the situation improved.

In the evening,Panchkula DC Rajender Kataria,SP Amitabh Dhillon and other senior officials of the administration inspected the area. The demolition drive was completed within the stipulated time and the debris is now being removed. Regular traffic would be restored by late evening.

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