Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 11

Ill-prepared demolition drive planned by the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) against scores of unlicensed and illegal colonies on the main Chuharpur Road in the Haibowal area faced stiff resistance from developers, their work force and other affected persons. GLADA officials, who went for demolishing illegal structures, had to beat a hasty retreat from the spot.

Led by a Duty Magistrate, cops from the Haibowal police station, along with men and machines, a team of GLADA officials descended at an under-development colony on Chuharpur Road. They announced to carry out demolition at the unlicensed colony. The machine were about to be deployed when a large crowd gathered on the spot and forced the GLADA team to stop their work.

GLADA SDO Khushdeep Singh said, property owners in these colonies and other affected persons reached the spot, squatted and protested against demolition drive.

The police force accompanying the GLADA team was inadequate. The situation was about to go out of hands when officials contacted the GLADA Additional Chief Administrator (ACA), who advised them to stop the drive and return.

Later, GLADA ACA Sandeep Rishi said the demolition drive was deferred as the situation could go out of hand. It could have become a law and order issue, he added. He made it clear that all unlicensed colonies were illegal and no prior notice for demolition was required as GLADA was acting as per the law in this respect.