Slums mushroom in Solan, locals want authorities to act

Tribune News Service

Ambika Sharma

Solan, April 19

Shanties mushrooming at various places in Solan town have become a cause of concern among people as they fear that inhabitants can create law and order issues, besides spreading filth.

Railways must act

The DC has assured to take up the issue with the railway authorities as it is their land that has been encroached upon by slum dwellers. — Usha Sharma, Solan MC Mayor

These makeshift structures can be seen at several places on the Kather bypass, near an eatery and near railway track in the Housing Board Colony.

Jhuggi-dwellers, who do petty works like rag picking, also allegedly indulge in stealing whatever they can lay their hands on in their vicinity, residents allege.

The Solan Municipal Corporation had forcibly removed several shanties from near a petrol pump near Shamti about two years ago after cases of theft of public taps, cables, household items etc witnessed a spike in the area.

Residents allege that slum dwellers have become a nuisance as they create filth in the area where they live in the absence of civic amenities like toilets, water and electricity. They defecate in the open and pollute the surroundings. Their children also indulge in snatching and thefts and create scare among people, the residents added.

Rajeev Kaura, Councillor of Housing Board ward, said, “Residents of Housing Board Colony have been demanding the removal of the shanties that have come up near the railway track. Their number is multiplying with every passing day as there was no check by the railway staff.” He said the railway officials had been apprised of the matter during their visit to the area recently.

The shanties were slowing spreading to other parts of the town with several having sprung up near an eatery on the Kather bypass.

Solan Municipal Corporation Mayor Usha Sharma said she had written to the district administration seeking the removal of the shanties as they create nuisance.

She added that the Deputy Commissioner had assured to take up the issue with the railway authorities as it is their land that had been encroached upon.

The slum-dwellers have also set up jhuggis in two floors of an under-construction parking lot on the railway road here. It is alleged that 10 shanties have come up on one floor. while the top floor is being used by them for defecation. They were recently ousted by the police on the directions of the civic body after the locals complained, the Mayor said.

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