Mohali Phase-4 encroachment drive halted after High Court lawyer’s intervention

Residents accuse authorities of singling out Phase 4 instead of ensuring uniform action

The commissioner urged residents to voluntarily remove their grills to avoid damage. (Express Photo)

Mohali’s Phase 4 witnessed high tension Thursday as a joint team of the Municipal Corporation and GMADA launched an anti-encroachment demolition drive. Early in the morning, heavy machinery began dismantling iron grills and corner fencing installed by residents on the berms outside their houses. As soon as the operation started, local residents opposed the action.

Councillors Davinder Kaur Walia, Rupinder Reena, and Phase-4 youth leader Navin Sandhu joined the residents, calling the drive unjustified.

Residents and councillors argued that while they have no objection to following court orders, launching a demolition drive “without prior notice or giving residents time to comply” is unfair and causes unnecessary loss. They insisted that if the administration followed a uniform policy, the drive should have begun from Phase 1. “Had residents been given a few days, they would have removed the grills themselves and no confrontation would have taken place,” they said.

However, Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh Sidhu stated that the action was being carried out strictly under a 2022 High Court order. He explained that due to the lack of strict enforcement by MC and GMADA over the past two years, the matter escalated into contempt proceedings, prompting the court to issue immediate compliance directions. The commissioner urged residents to voluntarily remove their grills to avoid damage. He maintained that there is “no bias in the operation” and that the same rules will be applied across all areas, adding that anti-encroachment action will be carried out throughout Mohali within the next 15 days.

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