Faridabad municipal body demolishes illegal extensions

It was the first day of extensive action against illegal buildings in the stretch between the shooting range and the Gymkhana Club in Sector 21.

On the first day,the civic body brought down boundary walls of 16 banquet halls and farmhouses.

The owners had either built their property without seeking the change of land use (CLUs) or had encroached upon civic body land on both sides of the road,officials said.

“This is lawful action which we have initiated against defaulters,” said Municipal Commissioner Mehtab Singh Sehrawat.

On Saturday,the civic body brought down six temporary shops and completely demolished two banquet halls.

The owner of Eden Garden,where a boundary wall was brought down,cried foul. The owner,Sanjeev Malhotra,said,“I have all the sanctions and approvals in place. The action of the civic body was uncalled for. We may lodge a complaint against the officials who carried out the demolition drive without prior verification,” said Malhotra.

On their part,civic body officials said the wall was adjacent to an illegal building which was demolished. The owner should have brought the issue to their notice.

Though the civic body tried to ensure that the demolition was a low-key affair and began their drive very early,several owners showed stay orders which prevented the officials from carrying out the operation as planned and had to wind it up by 1 pm.