With time,illegal occupants move in

Though a UT Administration official said some areas have been cleared of encroachment — the colonies in Sector 38 have been removed,and the Panjab University land has been vacated — at present,more than 150 acres of land in the city is occupied by slums.

Angrez Singh,chairman of the Pind Bachao Committee,in a communiqué to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently had said around 18 illegal colonies exist on land acquired by the Administration for development purposes. “Encroachers thrive in the city due to the Administration’s inability to keep a check. While land is acquired from the villagers at a pittance,encroachers are allowed to settle on it. Over the years,the number of such encroachments has increased,” Singh said.

These encroachments get protection from political parties as they are lucrative vote banks. When attempts are made to raze these structures,numerous protests are organised. These parties argue that the Administration should not let these encroachers settle in the first place. But if they have settled,they should not be uprooted.

Due to these encroachments,several schemes have to be put on hold. For example,the CHB had to construct houses in Mauli Jagran — the announcement was made in 2006. However,work has not started so far. On the land,Colony number 4 exists with a population of around 10,000.

Brig K S Kahlon,president of Chandigarh Sanjha Morcha,said: “The Administration is to be blamed for the encroachments as it keeps its eyes closed. When land is acquired barbed wire should be put around it and a check kept.”