Removal of illegal structure: Stone-pelting & lathi-charge at Air Force ammunition depot

Gurugram: Out to raze illegal structures that have come up within 300 metres of the Air Force ammunition depot, the situation turned ugly as the occupants began pelting stones at the officials. In order to control the situation, law enforcement officials had to resort to the lathicharge.

The district administration in Gurugram faces an uphill task when it comes to evicting the large number of civilian settlements around 300 metres of the Air Force ammunition depot situated along the Old Delhi road. A report by the city civic body to Punjab and Haryana high court has specified that there are over 6,000 residential units at a distance of 300 metres from the heavily secure zone.

On the petition filed by the Defence Ministry, the high court has directed that there should be no civilian settlements in such a close proximity. Earlier, the court had ruled that the distance should be 900 metres. However, taking cognisance of the large number of civilian population settled in the area, it was reduced to 300 metres.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) was entrusted with the responsibility to survey the area and submit a report. With the report having been submitted, the difficulties for the public officials are bound to increase in evicting the civilian population from the prohibited area. Citing that they already have relevant documents, most of the civilian population has raised objections to the eviction move and refused to move out. Sources in MCG claim that there are a substantial number of illegal commercial units in the area, which need to be removed.

The real estate development over the years has led to unchecked rise in the commercial establishments.