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Authorities launched a large-scale demolition drive in Saraswati Kunj and sectors 53 & 54, removing 85 illegal structures and 230 hutments across ten plots. The Town and Country Planning Department targeted unauthorized multi-storey buildings, restaurants, and encroachments on green spaces. Saraswati Kunj, under scrutiny since 2004, has faced unregulated developments despite a construction ban since 2016. Officials sealed illegal commercial establishments, including Foresta restaurant and a Stilt +4 building. While some residents support the cleanup, concerns remain over hutment dwellers' displacement. Authorities vow to intensify oversight and enforce zoning laws for planned urban development.
Last week, authorities initiated a large-scale demolition drive in Saraswati Kunj and sectors 53 and 54 as part of the Town And Country Planning Department's efforts to eliminate illegal constructions and encroachments. This operation, aimed at making the area free from illegal settlements, resulted in the demolition of 85 structures and 230 hutments spread across ten plots, each covering between 500 and 750 square yards. The drive also targeted a Stilt +4 building on Plot 33, two restaurants, and encroachments on two designated green areas. Advertisement
Established in 1983, Saraswati Kunj has remained under legal scrutiny since 2004 due to irregularities in plot allotments. The cooperative group allegedly assigned plots to 9,000 applicants despite the colony's initial capacity to accommodate only 4,000. Authorities have sanctioned 1,500 plots to date. In 2016, the government appointed a commission, led by retired IAS officer SP Sharma, to verify the rightful owners of these plots. Since then, a construction ban has been in place, yet unregulated developments have continued without official approvals or sanctioned building plans.
Amit Madholia, District Town Planner (enforcement), stated that officials concentrated on clearing a specific section during Monday's operation, marking the beginning of a systematic effort to remove illegal structures. The demolition drive will continue for five days to ensure the complete elimination of unlawful settlements in the area. Enforcement teams sealed Foresta, a restaurant operating unlawfully on a residential plot, for violating zoning regulations. Additionally, authorities completely demolished an under-construction restaurant on Plot 31.
Authorities also targeted prohibited multi-storey developments, sealing a Stilt +4 building on Plot 33 that housed grocery home delivery businesses. These commercial establishments, found operating without proper approvals, faced immediate closure.
The demolition campaign has evoked mixed reactions from the residents. While some supported the initiative, highlighting the importance of preventing illegal settlements and the commercial misuse of residential zones, others raised concerns about the sudden displacement of hutment dwellers. Officials remain firm in their commitment to restoring planned urban development by enforcing land use regulations and ensuring compliance with zoning laws. The department intends to intensify its oversight to prevent future unsanctioned constructions and maintain order in the region.
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