Gurgaon Residents Protest Weekend Anti-Encroachment Demolition Drive
Residents of Golf Course Road in Gurgaon have expressed strong opposition to a weekend anti-encroachment drive conducted by the Haryana Town and Country Planning Department. The operation, which targeted unauthorized structures in eight licensed colonies, followed an April 2 interim stay by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on stilt-plus-4-storey constructions. Enforcement teams demolished over 290 encroachments in green areas, 150 guard rooms, and numerous boundary walls and sheds across prominent societies like DLF Phase 1 and Suncity. Officials stated that more than 40 properties along Golf Course Road alone faced action for commercial misuse of residential spaces. However, Resident Welfare Associations criticized the drive for lacking adequate notice periods and causing collateral damage to infrastructure such as water harvesting units and trees. District Town Planner Amit Madholia confirmed that this is a sustained effort covering all licensed colonies in phases, urging voluntary compliance. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between urban planning enforcement and resident rights in rapidly developing Indian cities, with authorities prioritizing strict adherence to building norms and Right of Way regulations despite local backlash.
Wire timeline
Gurgaon Residents Protest Weekend Anti-Encroachment Demolition Drive
Residents of Golf Course Road in Gurgaon have expressed strong opposition to a weekend anti-encroachment drive conducted by the Haryana Town and Country Planning Department. The operation, which targeted unauthorized structures in eight licensed colonies, followed an April 2 interim stay by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on stilt-plus-4-storey constructions. Enforcement teams demolished over 290 encroachments in green areas, 150 guard rooms, and numerous boundary walls and sheds across prominent societies like DLF Phase 1 and Suncity. Officials stated that more than 40 properties along Golf Course Road alone faced action for commercial misuse of residential spaces. However, Resident Welfare Associations criticized the drive for lacking adequate notice periods and causing collateral damage to infrastructure such as water harvesting units and trees. District Town Planner Amit Madholia confirmed that this is a sustained effort covering all licensed colonies in phases, urging voluntary compliance. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between urban planning enforcement and resident rights in rapidly developing Indian cities, with authorities prioritizing strict adherence to building norms and Right of Way regulations despite local backlash.
The Indian Express