The civic body demolished over 500 huts near Victoria garden at Ellisbridge when many residents were away attending marriages.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Friday demolished more than 500 huts near Victoria Garden under Ellisbridge, as part of its drive to free the Sabarmati riverfront of shanties and other illegal constructions.
Along with these slums, AMC also conducted demolition near VS Hospital and Kagdivad, Paldi.
People living around the city's Sunday Market, aka 'Gujari Bazaar', were in for a rude shock with the municipal body's staff reaching the spot around 10.30am.
Accompanying them were more than eight JCB machines and a complete police protection squad. The officials gave the residents 15 minutes to collect their belongings and evacuate the houses.
This created panic as well as anger among the residents, who felt that they should have been given at least a day's notice.
“We are not against shifting, but how can you shift a house within 15 minutes?” asked a resident, Taufiq. AMC began simultaneous demolitions from both the ends and brought down 500 huts during the day.
Many residents lost their belongings in the drive. “I lost my furniture and refrigerator as all my family members are out of station and there was no one to help me evacuate my things,” said another resident, Raju Yadav.
Friday being Akha Trij, many residents had locked up their houses and gone for marriages. The bulldozers went on to crush these homes too. Belongings like TVs, motorcycles and refrigerators were seen buried under the rubble.
“When these residents return, they will find nothing but the wreckage of their belongings,” said Amit Rathod, who watched his neighbour's locked up house go down.
In their defence, AMC officials said that these residents have been provided alternate housing and were served notice, months in advance, to vacate the area. However, many locals allege that those living there since the 70s have not been allotted a house.
“People who have settled here after the 90s have been allotted homes, not others,” claimed Amit Koshty. Nafis Ahmed, president of Sunday Market Merchants Association, claimed that the majority have been allotted houses, but they chose not to live there.
“AMC is not doing anything illegal. These people have either given those flats on rent, or want more benefits from AMC,” said Ahmed. According to the officials, AMC will continue the drive in coming days.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}