HUDA drive frees green belt in Golf Course Extention of squatters

GURGAON: The Haryana Urban Development Authority's enforcement team carried out a demolition drive on the Golf Course Extension Road on Wednesday, clearing squatters from parts of sectors 57 and 62.
A total of 175 structures, including slums, were removed. SDO H S Jhakkar, a member of the demolition team, said squatters in Sector 62 had encroached a large part of the green belt."These encroachments were also affecting the ongoing works by HUDA, such as construction of drains, laying of master water supply line and the treated sewage water line along the stretch. The demolition drive took place from 11am to about 4pm," Jhakkar said.
The demolition drive was met with some resentment from the slum dwellers near Tigra village in Sector 62, but the police managed to contain the situation and the drive was carried out successfully, Jhakkar added.
HUDA estate officer - 2 Tarun Kumar Pawaria, however, said the drive could not be completed as expected as the two JCBs broke down after the demolition in Sector 62.
Apart from this, demolition on an area of two acres in this sector could not be carried out as the owner of the horse riding club and a nursery, located in this area, claimed he had a stay order from the high court.
The demolition team comprised the estate officer-1 Om Prakash, who is also the duty magistrate, estate officer-2 Tarun Kumar Pawaria, three sub-divisional- officers, four junior engineers and about 40 labourers. Two earth moving machines (JCBs) were used for the demolition. It was assisted by a 150-member police force including one ACP and several SHOs from Badshahpur and Sohna.