Why weren’t we given more time after rehab policy, ask Khori villagers

Faridabad: Villagers in Khori, where several houses built on encroached Aravali forest land are being razed following a Supreme Court order, on Thursday asked why the authorities had not postponed the demolition drive till all of them were rehabilitated. District officials, however, said the locals had been informed well in advance about the top court order and requested to vacate their houses which were illegally constructed.
Many of the villagers whose houses were demolished on Wednesday slept in makeshift tents while several spent the night amidst the rubble.
Umesh Kumar, a 35-year-old auto rickshaw driver whose house was demolished on Thursday, the second day of the drive, said their homes were bulldozed just one day after the rehabilitation policy was announced, leaving them without a roof over their head and little time to make alternative arrangements.
“I met with an accident a month-and-a-half ago and injured my leg and since then I have not been able to make an earning. What is the point of announcing a rehabilitation policy when people are rendered homeless? Where will I go with my family and how will we feed our children?” said Kumar, who lives in the village with his wife and their 10-day-old daughter.
Shaheen Afroz (22) is facing demolition of her house at Islam Chowk on Friday. “The authorities promised that they will give us Rs 2,000 every month for six months. But at a time when we are being made homeless, will anyone be in that state of mind to chase authorities to get the help they promised?” she asked.
On July 13, the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) launched a rehabilitation policy for Khori villagers. Those who fulfil at least one of the three eligibility criteria will be rehabilitated in EWS flats in Dabua Colony and Bapu Nagar. The allottee will have to pay Rs 3.77 lakh and a payment of Rs 17,000 will need to be done within 15 days of the issue of the allotment letter. The remaining cost will be paid in EMIs of Rs 2,500 per month for 15 years.
Faridabad deputy commissioner Yashpal Yadav said it was not possible to give the villagers more time. “The MCF has to file the compliance report in the SC on July 19, for which we don’t have many days left. But we did introduce a rehabilitation policy for the Khori villagers on the directions of the Haryana chief minister,” he added.
Yadav said an assistance of Rs 2,000 per month will be provided for six months so that the villagers can stay in rented accommodation till the flats are ready. “The policy has been specifically made to ensure the villagers’ rehabilitation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the second day of the demolition drive began with a protest by the locals right at the entrance of the village. Police baton-charged the protesters to clear the way for bulldozers and their teams. The demolition, which started around 10am and concluded at 4:30pm, covered the area from Vishwakarma Colony to Islam Chowk.