Friday, 28 JUNE 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Slum dwellers have continued to question the demolition drive being conducted by the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) along the Rispana river bed. They claimed that the authorities are demolishing their homes without properly checking their documents. Many also claimed that MDDA has left many structures untouched though they were reportedly built during the same time period as the structures which were demolished by them. Kajli Devi who was living in her house in Gabbar Basti that was demolished on Thursday said that she has been living here since 2009 but did not have an electricity connection till 2015. She claimed that she got an electricity connection in December 2015 but the authorities are not listening to her. Another slum dweller Chhote Lal said that MDDA demolished his house but left his neighbour’s house intact though it was built at nearly the same time. “If they are randomly destroying our houses then I think we were unfortunate but if they are doing as per the law, I wonder why some of the houses are being left untouched. Why did they choose the rainy season for the demolition? Where will my children go? Why did the government provide us with power, water connection and other facilities if they wanted to demolish our home? We invested our life time’s money to buy land here and make a house. It might be illegal for them now but why did they not stop us when houses were being built here,” Lal said.
Meanwhile, the MDDA officials said that it is unfortunate that many people are losing their homes but every house is being demolished as per the rules after thorough checking. People might be levelling allegations in an emotional state but the MDDA has been doing its work as per the rules, they said.
