Residents of Snehanjali Society in Ahmedabad's upscale Thaltej area took to the streets in angry protest on Monday after the municipal corporation issued a demolition notice targeting 25 homes. The dramatic confrontation escalated when local BJP corporator Samir Patel arrived at the scene, only to be met with fierce demonstrations that forced him to leave.
The Root of the Decades-Old Conflict
The core of the issue dates back to the society's construction in 1986 by Anjana Builders. While most of the society was built correctly, a critical error placed 25 houses on a plot of land that did not belong to the society. This land was actually owned by a different builder. The problem remained dormant for years until the first legal dispute emerged in 2006.
The case wound its way through the courts, with a lower court initially ordering the residents to deposit Rs 3.71 crore with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). This amount was reportedly deposited by the builder, Anjana Builders. However, the original plot owner was not satisfied with monetary compensation and demanded a replacement plot of land instead.
Supreme Court Order and Escalating Tensions
The dispute eventually reached the highest court in the land. In a decisive ruling, the Supreme Court ordered the members of Snehanjali Society to pay a staggering Rs 41 crore to resolve the land ownership issue. This monumental financial burden placed the residents in an impossible situation.
Amid this ongoing legal and financial turmoil, the Estate Town Planning department of the AMC issued formal demolition notices to the owners of the 25 affected houses. This action served as the immediate trigger for Monday's protest. The residents have formally registered their objection, arguing vehemently that they are being made to suffer for a mistake that was entirely the builder's fault.
Protest Likely to Intensify
With their homes under direct threat and a crippling financial penalty imposed by the Supreme Court, the residents of Snehanjali Society feel they have no recourse but to fight back. The protest on Monday is viewed not as an endpoint, but as a beginning. Local observers and the residents themselves warn that the demonstrations are likely to escalate further in the coming days as the deadline in the demolition notice approaches.
The situation presents a complex urban dilemma, pitting the legal authority of the municipal corporation and the courts against the plight of homeowners who purchased their properties in good faith. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether a resolution can be found that addresses the legal violation without rendering dozens of families homeless.
