'Illegal' markets in Gurugram demolished

Authorities here on Wednesday razed over 200 shops and business establishments in five markets in Gurugram's upcoming residential sectors, including Sectors 82, 82A and 83.

In the presence of heavy police force, District Town Planner (enforcement) Wing of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) demolished nearly 250 'illegal constructions' erected on private lands belonging to local farmers.

"Constructions were erected on agricultural lands and were illegal as the owners did not obtain Change of Land Use (CLU) certificates from concerned departments," said a HUDA official.

However, the people affected by the demolition drive alleged that the action was taken at the behest of a builder.

"Authorities took action to benefit a builder who is developing these sectors. It is simply to force farmers to sell their lands to the builder," said Mahesh Yadav, one of the shop owners.

"We had been running our business here for nearly three years and had availed electricity connections and TIN for business issued by Excise and Taxation Department on this address," said Rajesh Kumar, another affected businessman.

"Vatika India Next has grabbed revenue pathways of villages, my cousin Pradeep Yadav filed a written complaint about the illegal grabbing at Gurugram's Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner of Police and local police station over two years ago but the authorities did not take any action against the builder," Sudhir Kumar, a resident of Village Sikanderpur said.

Vatika India Next is building houses, flats and villas and developing commercial sites on more than 700 acres after purchasing the land from farmers of Sikanderpur, Shikohpur, Sihi and Rampura villages, the firm said.

"We have nothing to say. The drive was carried out by HUDA department," a Vatika group spokesperson told IANS.

--IANS

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