The Maharashtra government has found a way out of demolishing
illegal buildings in Ulhasnagar.
It has regularized all the illegal buildings constructed
there till January 1, 2005. This was done keeping in mind
the fact that Sindhis came to India in 1947 as refugees and
were allowed to move her on the land earlier occupied by the
military camps.
The government has done this by issuing an ordinance. Earlier,
the Bombay High Court had ordered 850 illegally constructed
buildings to be demolished.
However, action will be taken against those guilty, including
builders, architects and officers of the Ulhasnagar Municipal
Corporation. The operation demolition began with a lot of
fanfare followed by public outcry and a riot-like situation
that threatened to engulf the entire area.
The only house that was demolished was that of Nagpal family
who moved away to a friend’s house, watching the demolition
of their house brick by brick. “We are the only one
who have lost our house. Will anyone help us?” ask the
Nagpals.
