Chandigarh: Despite earnest but futile efforts by shopkeepers in the furniture market, bulldozers rolled in early on Sunday morning, flattening the four decade old market. As a few shopkeepers frantically tried to remove the remaining stock and others cried, a large police force stood guard at the market on the road dividing sectors 53 and 54. The Chandigarh administration has pegged the market value of the land, which spans around 10 to 12 acres, at Rs 400 crore. This time, the administration made a determined push to free the prime land from the traders they have repeatedly described as encroachers. A total of 116 shops were demolished during the drive, which lasted about four hours. No untoward incidents were reported as the market, which was established in 1986, was razed. To prevent protests, the Chandigarh administration deployed around 1,000 police officers and sealed roads leading to the demolition area. Personnel from the MC, civil defence, fire and emergency services, and enforcement department were also present.The demolition drive was scheduled to start at 7am but the staff involved turned up earlier. In the wake of fervent appeals by shopkeepers struggling to remove heavy furniture from their shops, they were given two more hours to do so. In the absence of resources like godowns or alternative sites, desperate shopkeepers resorted to distress sale of furniture at throwaway prices, offering 50% to 60% discounts.Deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, SSP Kanwardeep Kaur, along with other administrative and police officials, also visited the furniture market to assess the demolition drive and the situation on the ground.When the dust settled towards the evening, the Chandigarh administration said that it was committed to planned and sustainable urban development, with public interest as its guiding priority. “The administration has successfully reclaimed approximately 10 to 12 acres of land in Sectors 53–54, previously under illegal occupation by the furniture market. The reclaimed land, acquired for the third phase of Chandigarh’s urban expansion, has now been handed over to the Engineering Department for its planned development. Valued at approximately Rs 400 crore, the land holds significant importance for the city’s growth and future infrastructure projects,” an official release from the Chandigarh administration reads.Referring to the compensation given to original landowners at the time of land acquisition years ago, the administration stated, “The original landowners have been duly compensated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, ensuring a fair and transparent acquisition process. It is the Chandigarh administration’s firm stance against illegal encroachments. All unauthorized occupations of public land will be dealt with strictly, and appropriate measures will continue to be taken to prevent such violations in the future.“Meanwhile, shopkeepers at the furniture market maintain that they never encroached on the land. According to them, they had been paying rent to the original landowners much before the administration acquired the land. They had agreed to be relocated and were trying to buy time so that they could gather resources for auction and to pay off loans. **Box: Greater good: DC Chandigarh deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said, “I urge all the citizens of the city to uphold the city’s planned character and to refrain from unauthorized occupation of public land. Such initiatives are essential for Chandigarh’s holistic development and to ensure that public resources are utilised for the greater good of all residents.”Box: Betrayed, lied to: Traders assnTalking to TOI, Sanjiv Bhandari, president, Furniture Market Association, said, “Chandigarh administration has acted atrociously by removing us before rehabilitating us. We are not encroachers and have been here since 1986. The Chandigarh administration itself conducted surveys six times. We were ready to make payment, but the administration did not listen to us.” Maintaining that the furniture market was the oldest in the city and the shopkeepers had been paying taxes diligently, he said that the market provided employment and income to over 5,000 people. Accusing the administration of reneging on its promise and organising the drive in a way that they would not been able to get a court reprieve, Bhandari said, “Our matter is still pending with the High Court, and the date is scheduled for Tuesday, and they demolished the market today (Sunday). We supported the administration each and every time, but they did not listen to us. They promised us to first give the land and then remove us from here, which they did not do.” Highlights of the drive —116 shops demolished in a 4-hour operation on Sunday morning.—Market was located between Sectors 53 and 54, established in 1986.—10–12 acres of prime land reclaimed, valued at Rs 400 crore Security & Execution—1,000 police personnel deployed to prevent protests —Roads leading to the market were sealed —Officials from MC, civil defence, fire services, and enforcement were present —Shopkeepers were given 2 extra hours to remove furniture.Impact on Traders—Traders resorted to distress sales with 50–60% discounts —No alternative sites or godowns provided.—Market supported over 5,000 livelihoods.—Traders claim they were paying rent and were willing to relocate, but were denied time and support.Administration’s Stand—Land handed over to Engineering Department for urban development.—Original landowners were compensated as per law —Administration reiterated its stance against illegal encroachments (Photos by Pritam Thakur)MSID:: 122798777 413 |
