Once illegal settlers, now these 4 lakh voters being wooed by all parties

Gurugram: On a petition filed by Defence Minister, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered that 900 metres around the Indian Air Force depot were illegal. It was later reduced to 300 metres by the court after politicians from all parties highlighted that how it would be difficult to accommodate the four lakh people who are settled around the area.

Subsequently after court's permission, some of the houses were also given electricity and water connections. Various houses and shops in the Sheetla colony being sealed, a situation that has not gone well with thousands of residents residing in the area. What, however, generated controversy was the sealing of a mosque last year which after hue and cry was made to function. On his recent visit, Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit Singh minced no word in highlighting that irregularities were maintained by the officials giving licences to the people around the ammunition depot. He also, however, highlighted that now since the people were settled, their interests had to be taken care of.

Even as objections were raised by Airforce officials to prohibit the setting up of civil establishments, a number of civil setups have only grown around the area. Not only the Airforce station but even an Army cantonment area that is located few kilometres away face the similar challenges. On the repeated complaints by Defence personnel, a plea was filed seeking the intervention of judiciary into the matter.

The real estate development over the years has led to unchecked rise in the commercial establishments. The presence of the Maruti Suzuki factory further expedited the real estate development. Automobile garages, wedding banquet halls, marble market and various consumer showrooms began to be set up in the vast swathes of land around the Defence land.

The issue has been in controversy for long where various prominent citizens including the sitting MLA Umesh Aggarwal has advocated of the relocation of the Airforce station. At present, the High Court has directed the DC office to only remove the civil establishments situated around 300 metres area of the Airforce ammunition station.