At least 13 properties demolished on SC order

Agencies of the Haryana government started demolishing properties in Kant Enclave, a colony in Faridabad, on Monday morning following a Supreme Court order. The demolition began early morning in the presence of 250 cops, along with officials of DTCP, Municipal Corporation of Faridabad and the sub-divisional magistrate, Badhkal, who were part of a committee formed last month to oversee the drive. By evening, 13 properties, mostly belonging to retired Army officers, advocates and bureaucrats were demolished. In adherence to the Supreme Court’s March 31 deadline, the properties had been vacated before the drive was carried out. Sources said owners of all 13 properties scheduled for demolition had vacated their premises. Of the 13, three properties only had boundary walls. The Supreme Court, in a September 11, 2018 order to check illegal construction in the Aravalis, directed that properties in Kant Enclave be demolished before December 31, 2018, terming them illegal as they were built on forest land protected under Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) 1900. The deadline was later extended to March 31.