Routine Demolition Drive Sparks Public Outcry in Mohali
A planned anti-encroachment operation by the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MC) escalated into a major confrontation on Thursday after residents of Phase 4 physically intervened to stop officials from demolishing green patches developed outside their corner houses.
Residents Challenge MC's Authority
The situation intensified rapidly when the MC team, led by a Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) and accompanied by a JCB machine, arrived to remove what they classified as illegal occupations on government land. Local residents immediately gathered at the scene, bringing the operation to a complete standstill.
The central point of contention was jurisdiction. The protesting residents accused the MC of acting beyond its legal authority, demanding that officials produce legal documents proving their right to intervene on the disputed land. Repeated attempts to contact MC Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh for clarification went unanswered during the incident.
"We Made a Green Belt": The Residents' Plight
Pritpal Singh Bassi, one of the homeowners who resisted the demolition, explained the residents' perspective. He stated that homeowners had personally invested significant time and money to maintain the open spaces outside their properties, transforming neglected areas into beautiful green patches.
"These are corner houses. Open spaces here usually turn into garbage dumps. We planted flowers and made it a green belt," Bassi said. He further alleged a clear jurisdictional boundary, explaining, "Five feet from the road belongs to MC for maintenance. Beyond that, the land comes under GMADA. Today they tried to plough land beyond their jurisdiction. We simply asked them to show legal orders — they couldn't."
Political Support and Underlying Pressure
The residents found a strong ally in Councillor Rupinder Kaur Reena, who was present at the site and openly questioned the civic body's motives. "MC keeps targeting beautified areas that actually enhance cleanliness," she asserted. "They have no legal authority to demolish anything on land that does not belong to them."
This clash is not an isolated event. Sources indicate that the MC is currently under significant pressure from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which recently demanded an affidavit detailing actions taken to restore encroached public land. This judicial scrutiny came after a petition alleged selective and biased demolition practices by the corporation.
Official Response and a Temporary Reprieve
In the aftermath of the confrontation, MC Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh provided his account. He clarified that the drive was a joint effort by the MC and GMADA, initiated in response to a contempt notice from the High Court addressed to both bodies.
"The HC contempt was to both MC and GMADA, giving 15 days to rectify and report," Singh stated. He appealed to residents to voluntarily remove any encroachments, warning that the MC would be forced to resume the drive otherwise. The official confirmed that the operation was halted for the day and is scheduled to restart on Monday, giving residents a two-day window to comply.
This incident exposes a deeper issue of confusion and a lack of coordination between the Mohali Municipal Corporation and the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), ultimately leaving local residents caught in a frustrating bureaucratic crossfire.
