Chandigarh, January 2: Much hyped anti-encroachment drive of the Municipal Corporation (MC) in the Sector 19 residential area today failed to yield the desired result.
Although the drive was conducted after a survey in which a number of violations outside houses in Sector 19 were identified, the MC failed to act sternly. Various houses, where tin sheds, small dividers and other temporary structures had been built, were left out during the drive. Even majority of government houses were left aloof in the drive.
However, some houses were exception in this regard as residents alleged that the MC adopted ‘pick and choose policy’. Teams of the MC were seen primarily removing bushes and flowers outside houses. After resistance from residents, the civic body workers stopped removing flowers and plants too.
Residents rued that the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s directive of starting the anti-encroachment drive from the house of a judge in front of the Community Centre in Sector 19 was ignored. Officials also gave in when residents living near Maharashtra Bhawan protested against the drive. Violations on large scale were ignored in houses near the bhavan.
“Actually, officials were themselves not sure how many feet space has to be left in front of houses. They did not serve any notice to us. Officials said they have given a notice in newspapers. When every household has different encroachment issue, then how can one notice suffice?” said Arvinder Singh Bedi, a resident of Sector 19-D.
Meanwhile, Additional Commissioner Tilak Raj did not respond to repeated attempts made to contact him.
