Demolition drive near airport put off for want of security

Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 20

After failing to get police cover for demolition of 83 illegal structures around the local Air Force Station at Bhabat village, the local administration today deferred its drive again.

The order in this regard was issued by the Mohali district collector in the last week of December. The collector had ordered to demolish the structures by January 7, however, the drive was deferred due to inclement weather.

According to Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa, executive officer of the Zirakpur Municipal Corporation, they were yet to get police cover for protection during the drive.

“The demolition will take place as soon as we get the police cover,” Randhawa said.

He said a communique in this regard had already been sent to Mohali police authorities. “We are hoping to get it this week,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued orders of demolition to the Mohali administration in August last year. The High Court had given four months’ time to the administration to comply with the order.

The administration has identified as many as 83 structures that had come up within the restricted area of 100 metres from the boundary of the Air Force Station after the set deadline of March 9, 2011.