Monday, 24 JUNE 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) will start its demolition drive on the Rispana river bed on Monday to remove encroachments constructed after 2016. The authorities will remove approximately 250 encroachments during this drive. The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) had in April identified about 550 encroachments in 129 slums along the Rispana river that were built after 2016. The survey was conducted following orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The survey conducted by the MCD revealed that out of the identified encroachments, 425 structures were built on MDDA’s land. Subsequently, the MCD informed MDDA officials about the encroachments, who then issued notices to all marked slum dwellers in May to submit their objections supported by relevant documents establishing that their houses were constructed before 2016. Following the review of objections, the number of encroachments established after 2016 decreased from 425 to about 250. Informing about the drive, MDDA assistant engineer Nazir Ahmed said that the drive will commence at 10 AM on Monday in the Kathbangla slum, with two teams established to ensure an efficient process. He said that the MDDA team thoroughly analysed all documents and physically checked the structures before finalising about 250 structures that were constructed after 2016. Anticipating resistance from locals, the officials have requested a significant police presence from the administration. The MDDA aims to swiftly complete the demolition drive, as per the NGT’s directive to remove all identified encroachments, he said. He also added that the MDDA has not fixed how many structures it will initially demolish on Monday. “We will start at 10 AM and will demolish as many structures as possible as per the situation,” he added. The MCD is expected to submit the updated report about the marked encroachments on the Rispana riverbed to NGT by the end of this month after the completion of the MDDA’s drive.
