GMADA axe falls on Madanpura

Though the entire village, with a population of over 5,000, mostly poor migrant labourers, is illegal, the GMADA has picked a pocket of almost 3,000 square yards to clear up for starting the development works planned in the area, GMADA Estate Officer Sukhjeet Pal Singh told Newsline.

A team of GMADA Enforcement Staff swooped on the village this afternoon to pull down a cluster of 10 structures. But owing to resistance from the occupants, they were given a day8217;s time to vacate the area to avoid forcible action.

8220;We will wait till Saturday before moving bulldozers to bring down the illegal structures,8221; said Singh, adding that the vacated area will be developed as an open green space for public utility.

Singh said discussions are on with the villagers to persuade them to voluntarily vacate the area, which was acquired long ago but in the absence of any follow-up action, illegal structures came up on the acquired land.

He also added that the deadline fixed by the court for vacating the remaining illegal structures in Jhota Kut Colony, one of Mohali8217;s oldest slums, in Sector 71 also expired today. Following the nod from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the GMADA had pulled down almost 100 concrete structures in the colony in September.