Indore: The recent anti-encroachment drive in Indore, the economic capital of Madhya Pradesh, witnessed a tough time for the municipal corporation’s demolition squad when people resorted to violent protests. Many people, particularly women, formed a line in front of the JCB machines to save the building, even if for a short period. All attempts to calm them and persuade them were in vain; the residents did not agree with the action, insisting that it was unfair to perform such operations during heavy rain. At the reporting date, the protests were still active.
The occurrence happened at Nyay Nagar in the area falling under the Khajrana police station. The municipal corporation’s team has now come to perform a removal exercise. The moment the process of demolishing 35 houses was initiated, the affected families rose up against the municipal corporation. There was a large number of policemen present at the scene, too. Women fumed with a lot of passion in front of the municipal team, and more police officers intervened to avoid tension. About one week prior to the incident, it was said that the municipal corporation had pasted marks on the properties for its demolition.
The action, sources among business people said, was being undertaken in response to an order of the Supreme Court. At the moment, the groups of municipal corporations and the district administration are aiming at 20 empty homes. Various matters have been finalized in the Supreme Court, and Shriram Builders emerged victorious regarding 77 houses. After the fire, the shareholders kept demolishing the building, and the residents continued their protest.
It flows with conflicts between development projects and sundry rights of those concerned, more so when the conditions are hostile. The authorities have, however, been heavily criticized for continuing with the demolition during rains, although they were displeased by the exercise. A massive police contingent detected the situation as tense and showed unrest in the local populace, who felt that they were being mistreated during monsoon periods.
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