CHANDIGARH : With the August 10 deadline given by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) to illegal structure occupants around the Indian Air Force (IAF) base boundary long over, the inaction 12 days after has been attributed by the agency to government holidays and pending written consent for the drive from the IAF authorities.
Meanwhile, a joint survey by GMADA, Chandigarh MC, Zirakpur municipal officials and the IAF on August 20 allegedly did not witness much participation from agencies other than GMADA, according to the IAF officials. The IAF officials have also been disappointed over the ‘inaction’ on the part of Zirakpur municipal officials and said their arrival was more of an ‘eyewash’.
It was the IAF that had raised the issue of illegal constructions within the 100 metre periphery of their base boundary before the Punjab and Haryana high court.
Amninder Kaur, estate officer, regulatory, GMADA, said had it not been for some non-working days, including visit by a Union minister due to which police was not available during the demolition drive.
The estate officer said they are awaiting a written consent from the IAF authorities for carrying out the demolition drive.
IAF ALSO RAISES ISSUE OF CLOGGED DRAINS After the instructions from the HC, on August 3, GMADA served a seven-day notice to nearly 100 such encroachers to evacuate the earmarked area in Pabhat, Jagatpoura and Kailana villages around the air base. After that, GMADA, despite marking the illegal structures with red arrows, hesitated from demolishing, saying the occupants maintained that they haven’t infringed the 100m ‘no construction zone.’
The IAF has also pointed out clogged drains coming out of the airport, which is yet to be addressed by the Mohali administration. These blocked drains remain a major threat to the runway under construction.