While the demolition of the building was under way, stones were pelted by the occupants of the property at police officials and the demolition staff.
A small factory was demolished in Juhapura area on Friday in mysterious fashion, as it is not clear which urban development authority carried out the operation. While the demolition of the building was under way, stones were pelted by the occupants of the property at police officials and the demolition staff.
The factory owner told DNA that he had suffered a loss of Rs 50 lakh as he was not even allowed to remove his machinery from the premises.
Interestingly, a blame game has started between Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority over who actually ordered the demolition as both the authorities denied having done so. On the other hand, victims have alleged both AUDA and AMC officials initiated the demolition at the behest of a local builder who has been eyeing the land.
A caravan equipped with two JCB machines of AMC and encroachment removal van and police vehicles razed the factory, located at Classic Home Corner near Amber Tower on the Sarkhej-Juhapura road. When the occupants protested and asked the concerned officials to produce the notice for demolition, the police lathicharged the crowd that had gathered there, who protested by pelting stones at the cops.
Interestingly, both AMC and the police had received written communication from AUDA officials for support in removing the encroachment. At first, AUDA officials, ranging from the deputy executive engineer Manu Prajapati to CEO, Mamta Verma and executive engineer BR Doshi to chairman Dharmendra Shah, refused they had given any instruction for the demolition or even ask for police protection on Friday.
But later, BR Doshi, executive engineer of AUDA said: "We had requested the deputy estate officer of new west zone to immediately remove the encroachment on the service road near Classic Corner". To defend the organisation, he added that AUDA does not need AMC's machinery or manpower for removal of encroachment as it also has its own estate branch for such work. "If we have asked for help, our officials would have been present at the spot, which was not the case," said Doshi.
However, deputy estate officer of AMC's new west zone Rajendra Jadav said the AMC had provided support as AUDA had requested it in writing. DNA is in possession of documents which detail the communication between the two bodies, where AUDA has requested AMC to 'give them manpower and machinery to remove the encroachment'. The documents also reveal AUDA requesting police protection.
The occupiers of the properties on the complex, four small factories and workshops, claimed neither AUDA nor AMC issued any notice to them before carrying out the demolition drive.
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