Residents of Kathbangla colony along the Rispana riverbank in Dehradun are enduring prolonged anxiety, caught between the threat of their homes being demolished and the unfulfilled promise of relocation to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats by the civic authorities.
Notices and Broken Promises
The crisis escalated on November 21, when the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) served notices to 116 families. The notices directed them to vacate their houses within 15 days or face demolition. This action was in compliance with a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order prohibiting encroachment on river floodplains. The authorities had assured these families of relocation to nearby EWS flats as an alternative.
However, more than a month has passed since the ultimatum, and the relocation process has ground to a halt. The promised flats have not been handed over, leaving the community in a state of constant dread.
A Community Living in Daily Fear
The delay has inflicted severe mental distress on the colony's inhabitants. Raman Pandit, a resident, voiced the collective fear, stating that every day they leave for work worrying they might return to find their homes reduced to rubble, leaving their families without shelter in the winter cold.
Another resident highlighted the prolonged uncertainty, noting that some houses were demolished last year. Despite court orders suggesting protection for families residing there before March 2016, notices were still issued. The resident described a cycle of official visits, document checks, and house markings, followed by silence, calling it a form of "mental torture." The conflicting messages from different government agencies have only added to the confusion and fear.
Official Response and Protests
Frustrated by the inaction, the residents have organized protests across the city, opposing the demolition notices. In response, authority officials have clarified that demolitions will not proceed until the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) completes the relocation process.
Municipal Commissioner Namami Bansal explained the delay, stating that work at the EWS site is still pending. She noted that the Jal Sansthan, which was expected to finish its work by December 15, has not done so. The DMC is now following up to get a fresh timeline, even though the allotments from their end have been finalized.
The situation remains a stark example of administrative delays directly impacting the lives of vulnerable citizens, who continue to wait for the security of a permanent home while living under the shadow of eviction.
