Monday, 20 March 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
With the help of the district administration and police, the UJVN Limited on Sunday demolished nearly 350 houses out of about 600 houses constructed illegally on the government land from Dakpathar to Dhalipur near Shakti canal in Vikasnagar. According to UJVNL, notices had been issued and announcements were made several times to make the dwellers evict the encroachments. Residents of some of the encroachments which were there for the past 22 years removed the encroachments voluntarily.
The police used drones to monitor the situation during the anti-encroachment campaign. The officials said that they will continue to demolish the remaining encroachments on Monday. The police stated that the action was taken on Sunday as per the orders issued by Uttarakhand High Court to demolish the illegal constructions on the government land there. A heavy police force was deployed at the site including personnel from the State Disaster Response Force and fire tenders under the supervision of the superintendent of police (rural) Kamlesh Upadhyay. The UJVNL used eight JCBs and nearly 10 tractors to demolish the encroachments as per the officials. The officials said that some of the locals initially protested but later started vacating their illegally constructed houses considering the heavy police force. The officials said that the police also used drones to keep a close watch on potential miscreants and recorded the entire anti-encroachment campaign through video recording. The police are also keeping an eye on anti-social elements that can cause disorder during the anti-encroachment drive and stated that strict action will be taken against those involved in illegal activities disrupting the campaign. The officials said that the corporation had issued notice to illegal occupants to vacate the government land in 24 hours. They said that authorities started the demolition work on Sunday as per the notice and the remaining encroachments will be removed on Monday in a phased manner.
