Backed by full police protection, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Tuesday morning began phase II of demolition around Chandola lake in Ahmedabad.
In the operation that is scheduled to continue till Thursday, the civic authorities are targeting to bring down illegal encroachments and clear 2.5 lakh square metres of land near the water body. In the first phase that took place soon after 26 tourists were gunned down by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22, the civic body had cleared 1.5 lakh square metres of land.
For years together, the area surrounding Chandola has been occupied by whom the administration has termed as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Before the first phase of the operation, illegal immigrants were picked up and more than 200 of them have been deported to Bangladesh.
People of different faiths, including Muslims, from various parts of the country, have been residing near the lake. Portions of the lake have also been encroached over the years.
Sources told Vibes of India that around 8,000 illegal structures are likely to be razed to the ground in three days.
The AMC had served notices to the occupants to vacate their homes. On Monday, the teams were in the area doing announcements on loudspeakers.
After the first phase of demolition, nine people had moved the Gujarat High Court demanding a stay. The HC, however, denied to grant a stay against demolition.
In the second round of demolition, the AMC has pressed into service more than 35 JCBs.
There are unconfirmed reports that confrontation took place between a Maulana and the AMC team. It is believed that the Maulana had objected to demolition of a structure that was associated with a mosque. It is said that the police intervened and resolved the matter.
The operation at Chandola is considered to be the biggest in Gujarat. More than 3,000 police personnel and about 25 companies of State Reserve Police have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
Police Commissioner G S Malik told media persons that the police’s primary task is to ensure law and order during the demolition.
Sources said that those who were staying around the Chandola lake before 2010 will be provided houses under various government schemes.
In the first phase of operation, the AMC had also demolished a farm house owned by one Lalla Bihari alias Mehmud Pathan. Bihari and his son Fateh were arrested.
Bihari ran several rackets, including helping the immigrants and people from other parts of India, to get identity proofs like the aadhar card based on fake rent agreements. He also ran a fleet of 400 autorickshaws. He is also alleged to be involved in a racket to push women into flesh trade.
The AMC plans to beautify the lake once the encroachments are cleared.
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