News: DTCP razes illegal colony built by former MLA amid threats-10-06-2021
Gurgaon: A demolition drive against an illegal colony in Sector 77 on Thursday became tense as former Gurgaon MLA Umesh Aggarwal and his supporters allegedly threatened the enforcement team led by district town planner RS Batth.While Batth alleged that Aggarwal threatened him with dire consequences, the MLA accused the district town planner of violating a court stay order.
Batth said despite filing of FIRs against six offenders, including the MLA and two property dealers in April this year, unauthorised construction continued unabated at the illegal colony in Sector 77’s Shikohpur village.
Batth told TOI, “We carried out the demolition drive with the help of five earthmovers in the presence of around 150 police personnel. The offenders heavily resisted the drive but it was carried out. The offenders had laid out a road network and done plotting without any change of land use permission and mandatory approval from the DTCP.”
The district town planner also said that apart from the road network and other structures, a property dealer’s office was also demolished during the drive. “Developers and landowners were served show-cause notices and restoration orders, but they not only failed to furnish satisfactory replies but were continuing with road construction and electricity supply work. They were carrying out construction during lockdown.”
On the allegation of razing the illegal colony despite a stay order from the court, Batth said that action has been taken only after consulting the department’s legal team.
“The former MLA threatened me and used abusive language to stop the drive.”
Aggarwal, on the other hand, claimed despite showing the court order, Batth carried out the demolition drive. “We also informed him that the next date of hearing in the matter is scheduled on July 1, but he did not comply with the court’s order. I had to call the police and demand the registration of an FIR against the officer.”
In April this year, an FIR was filed at the Kherki Daula police station against six people, including Aggarwal and two property dealers in April this year, for carrying out unauthorised construction in the illegal colony carved out in Sector 77’s Shikohpur village in violation of the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act.
