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Journalism of Courage
VADODARA, March 24: Social standings seem to govern law-keepers of the Gujarat Housing Board GHB. Party to the large-scale demolition of the Dholi Kui slum last year for encroaching upon its high-income group colony land at Makarpura, the GHB has chosen to remain stone-blind to the blatant violation of its own regulations by residents of the very same colony.
The encroachments along a 12-metre wide road extending from the Housing Board colony8217;s Roopal Society up to GIDC bear testimony to the fact. Lush green front lawns, spacious verandahs, shops at regular intervals have reduced the road breadth to 6-8 metres.
The internal 6-7 metre wide roads running through the colony also lie reduced by over 2 metres due to extensions by the residents. Some ingenious residents, having carried out the extensions, have lined it with trees as if to create an illusion of a roadline.
Though GHB regulations disallow constructions on the road, a large chunk of the 400-odd houses in the colony are party to these violations. Board officials agree the violations exist and say they have also penalised 8220;a couple of encroachers8221;. However, the Board8217;s apparent disinterest in taking stern action against the offenders becomes evident from the misconception the residents are living with that they have paid to get the extension 8220;regularised8221;.
At least that was what Ghanshyambhai Vala maintained when asked by Express Newsline. Vala8217;s house was extended over 5 metres beyond the margin space on the GHB-GIDC road about 11 months ago. Vala claimed that his son had paid the charges for the additional area occupied.
What if the road was to be developed and the extension demolished, Vala replied, 8220;How can they ask us to handover the place to them? We have paid for it to the GHB. Vaise bhi, jisne hamara kaam karaya woh bahut pahuncha hua aadmi hai the man who got our plans approved has good contacts8221;.
S R Vanjara, too, held that his son had duly paid the extension charges. 8220;Only a little cemented patch outside this verandah is illegal and we will remove that when asked. Otherwise, we have paid for the additional area,8221; he asserted.
According to GHB Director Bharat Kode, the extensions could not have been regularised because the GHB 8220;cannot permit anybody to construct on the road8221;. 8220;They are mistaken. What they are probably talking about is the penalty charged by the Board for the illegal construction,8221; he explained.
Asked why no further action was initiated by the Board, Kode said, 8220;After charging the penalty we serve them notices for removing the encroachments. If they don8217;t comply, we seek the VMC8217;s assistance for demolition. We8217;ll shortly serve the notices after taking stock of the situation.8221;
Kode blames the general nonchalance of the residents at large for the growing number of encroachments. 8220;Any such extension first needs a no-objection certificate from both the society association and the neighbouring houses. But when neither of the two parties bother to complain to the GHB about a violation, how can we always vouch against the same?8221; he remarked.
An excuse, nevertheless, sustained by the unabashed admittance about the transgression by some colony residents.
The spacious otla verandah outside D Ratnakar8217;s house is illegal and his wife Bina has no qualms admitting it. 8220;Every house in this row has extended its premises to make an otla or a garden so why should we be handpicked. When they decide to develop this road, we8217;ll demolish it. And as the grills are collapsible, it shouldn8217;t be much of a problem,8221; she said.
Names of the residents have been changed.
