Housing projects for minority community face opposition

The residents of some housing societies here have voiced opposition to the two proposed residential projects for the members of a minority community coming up in their vicinity.
The members of the housing societies on Sun Pharma Road staged a protest outside one of the proposed sites yesterday.
Two vacant plots on the road have been earmarked for the housing projects for the minority community with the boards announcing their names having come up at the sites recently.
The protesting residents, belonging to the majority community, have taken up the matter with the mayor.
Talking to PTI today, Mayor Bharat Dangar said, "A delegation of the residents of these societies submitted a representation to me strongly opposing the housing projects for the minority community coming up in their area."

"I am not aware whether the civic authorities have given permission for the projects," he said.

Devendra Agrawal, staying in Pratham Upvan Society located on Sun Pharma Road, said the protesting residents will meet district collector Lochan Sehra tomorrow and request him not to give permission to the developers for the projects.
Agrawal said, "We will plead with the collector to look into the matter keeping in mind the Disturbed Area Act."
Giving reasons for opposing the projects, Agrawal said, "The local residents feel uncomfortable as there are major differences in the lifestyle of the two communities."
Manish Pagar, a local municipal corporator belonging to the ruling BJP, said, "I will take up this matter with the Mayor and Municipal Commissioner Vinod Rao."

The Act seeks to check illegal transfer of properties in communally sensitive areas officially described as "disturbed areas" in Ahmedabad and Vadodara cities. The Act makes it tough to sell property to a member of the minority community in a neighbourhood.