GURUGRAM: A large-scale demolition drive was conducted in Saraswati Kunj and sectors 53 and 54 on Monday as part of the town and country planning department’s crackdown on illegal constructions and encroachments.
The operation — aimed at making the area “jhuggi-free” — led to the demolition of 85 structures and 230 hutments spread across ten plots, each ranging between 500 and 750 square yards.
The demolition covered a Stilt +4 building on Plot 33 and two restaurants. Additionally, two green areas were cleared of encroachments.
Established in 1983, Saraswati Kunj has been under legal scrutiny since 2004 when the cooperative group allegedly allotted plots to 9,000 applicants despite the colony’s capacity of 4,000. As many as 1,500 plots were allotted so far. In 2016, the govt formed a commission, headed by retired IAS officer SP Sharma, to identify the original owners of the plots. Since then, construction within the colony was banned. However, illegal constructions continue without permission or approved building plans.
“We took up a single pocket today, and this will be a continuous operation. By the end of this drive, Saraswati Kunj will be free of unauthorised structures,” district town planner (enforcement) Amit Madholia said. The demolition will continue for the next five days to remove all unauthorised settlements and illegal constructions from the area, officials said. A restaurant named Foresta was sealed after it was found operating on a residential plot in violation of zoning regulations. In addition, an under-construction restaurant on Plot 31 was completely demolished.
A crackdown on unauthorised multi-storey constructions also took place, with officials sealing a Stilt +4 building on Plot 33, which housed grocery home delivery stores. These commercial establishments were found to be operating without the necessary approvals, leading to their immediate closure.
While some residents welcomed the move, saying it was necessary to prevent illegal settlements and commercial misuse of residential areas, others raised concerns about the sudden displacement of hutment dwellers.
