By Arun Pratap Singh
Haldwani, 15 May: The Haldwani Development Authority, taking a firm position against unauthorised land development, today demolished illegal plotting being carried out in the Devla Talla Pajaya area of Gaula Par, here. The action was taken in response to serious complaints lodged earlier on the Chief Minister’s Helpline, including concerns raised over deliberate and planned demographic changes and unchecked illegal constructions.
The colony in question had come up directly opposite the land earmarked for the proposed Uttarakhand High Court complex. This case has attracted significant public attention after residents raised concerns that the area was being converted into a full-fledged residential settlement with a skewed demographic profile. Sources reveal that out of 111 land registries conducted over a short period, 109 were reportedly executed in favour of members of the Muslim community, many of whom are said to be from outside Uttarakhand. However, the major point to note is that these outsiders are settling here on encroached government land.
Amidst these concerns, and acting on the instructions of the Chief Minister, the Haldwani Development Authority initiated a demolition drive using JCB machines under the supervision of City Magistrate and Joint Secretary of the Authority, AP Bajpayee. The operation was closely monitored by Circle Officer Nitin Lohani, SHO Banbhoolpura Neeraj Bhakuni, and senior officials from the Development Authority.
Simultaneously, a separate encroachment removal drive was conducted in Rajpura, Haldwani, as per orders of the District Magistrate of Nainital. Illegal occupations on Nazul (government) land were removed under the leadership of Municipal Commissioner Richa Singh and Deputy Collector Rahul Shah. Encroachments on two separate plots, covering around 1000 square feet, were removed and gates illegally constructed were dismantled. The reclaimed land was formally taken into possession, and warning signboards were installed to prevent future encroachment.
This demolition and anti-encroachment campaign comes in the wake of increasing reports of unauthorised plotting, demographic manipulation, and land-grabbing in various parts of Uttarakhand, particularly in urban areas like Haldwani and Haridwar. The matter has become a political and administrative flashpoint, especially after allegations surfaced about organised land purchases by individuals with questionable documentation and unclear domicile status.
In January 2023, large-scale protests had broken out in Banbhoolpura following similar demolition drives against encroachments on railway land, leading to violent clashes and a statewide debate on illegal settlements and land ownership. Learning from the past, the administration this time ensured a substantial deployment of police personnel to maintain peace and avert any untoward incident during the operation.
District Magistrate Vandana Singh had earlier instructed the SDM and the Tehsildar to conduct a thorough inquiry into the illegal plotting activity over nearly three hectares of land. Following the probe, notices and challans were issued by the Development Authority against violators. Despite the absence of statutory approvals, land development and plotting activities had continued unabated until today’s crackdown.
At the demolition site, many individuals claimed to have purchased the land legally and said they were unaware of any violations. However, authorities maintained that the constructions were entirely unauthorised and that ignorance of law cannot be accepted as a defence in such matters.
City Magistrate AP Bajpayee stated categorically that no illegal colony or encroachment will be permitted in Haldwani, and similar action will be undertaken wherever violations are found. He emphasised that protecting government land and preserving legal town planning norms are priorities of the present administration.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who has been vocal about curbing land-jihad and to conserve the demographic nature of the state and on taking strict action against unauthorised settlements in the hill state, had recently instructed all district magistrates to act firmly against illegal land registries, especially those involving demographic imbalance or fraudulent documentation. The CM has also announced that digitisation of land records and regular monitoring will be intensified to prevent such encroachments and ensure transparency.
