Latest news with #Chandigarh
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Demolitions since 2007 result in Chandigarh administration reclaiming 500 acres of land
With the latest demolition of Adarsh Colony in Sector 53 and 54 on Thursday and the action on 18 other illegal colonies, the Chandigarh Administration has reclaimed 500 acres of its land from the drive that began in 2007. According to official records, the demolition drive against the illegal colonies established in Chandigarh began 18 years ago, when on May 6, 2007, a large chunk of slums in Janta Colony, Sector 25, was demolished along with Kumhar Colony, as part of the city's slum-free campaign. The demolition led to the removal of approximately 2,500 shanties and displaced around 5,000 residents. The 10-acre area was reclaimed by the UT Administration from this action. While 2.5 acres of land was cleared at SBS Colony in Mauli Jagran in 2010, 40 acres from the demolition of Rajiv Colony and 55 acres from Colony Number 5 in 2013. In 2014, 89 acres of land was reclaimed with the demolition of Kalyan Colony and 65 acres from Ambedkar Colony. The same year also saw the demolition of Nehru Colony, Pandit Colony, and Kuldeep Colony, with 38 acres of land taken back by the administration. Another 30 acres of land each was cleared from the demolition of Majdoor Colony and Madrasi Colony, while 50 acres from razing Kabari Colony in 2014. With the demolition of Gursagar Colony in Maloya and Lal Bahadur Shastri Colony in Palsora in 2016, 3 and 20 acres of land respectively were reclaimed by the administration. In 2022, 65 acres of land was recovered with demolition of Colony Number 4, and 6 acres of land from Sanjay Colony in Industrial Area in 2025. On June 19, the Administration took back 12 acres of land with the demolition of Adarsh Colony. Following the demolition of Adarsh Colony, only one slum — Shahpur Colony in Sector 38 — will remain, which has about 300 shanties spread across four acres of government land, valued at Rs 150 crore. Around 28,000 rehabilitated since 2006 In 2006, the UT administration launched a rehabilitation initiative under the Chandigarh Small Flats Scheme, earmarking 356 acres for the construction of 25,728 flats intended to house 23,841 families from 18 unauthorised colonies. According to an official, the Chandigarh Administration has rehabilitated around 28,000 people, who had been living in the unauthorised colonies, since 2006 under the Economic Weaker Section (EWS) scheme. Teams formed for keeping vigil on encroachment On the encroachment of the Government lands in Chandigarh, Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh said that, 'teams have been made and each of its offices has been assigned 2-3 sectors'. 'They shall report on a weekly basis about any encroachment in their area,' he added. The Chandigarh DC has clarified that the demolition drive is not just about reclaiming land but sending a clear message that illegal encroachments will not be tolerated. 'The reclaimed land will now be utilized in accordance with planned urban development goals to benefit the larger community, ' Yadav added.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Demolitions since 2007 result in UT admn reclaiming 500 acres of land
With the latest demolition of Adarsh Colony in Sector 53 and 54 on Thursday and the action on 18 other illegal colonies, the Chandigarh Administration has reclaimed 500 acres of its land from the drive that began in 2007. According to official records, the demolition drive against the illegal colonies established in Chandigarh began 18 years ago, when on May 6, 2007, a large chunk of slums in Janta Colony, Sector 25, was demolished along with Kumhar Colony, as part of the city's slum-free campaign. The demolition led to the removal of approximately 2,500 shanties and displaced around 5,000 residents. The 10-acre area was reclaimed by the UT Administration from this action. While 2.5 acres of land was cleared at SBS Colony in Mauli Jagran in 2010, 40 acres from the demolition of Rajiv Colony and 55 acres from Colony Number 5 in 2013. In 2014, 89 acres of land was reclaimed with the demolition of Kalyan Colony and 65 acres from Ambedkar Colony. The same year also saw the demolition of Nehru Colony, Pandit Colony, and Kuldeep Colony, with 38 acres of land taken back by the administration. Another 30 acres of land each was cleared from the demolition of Majdoor Colony and Madrasi Colony, while 50 acres from razing Kabari Colony in 2014. With the demolition of Gursagar Colony in Maloya and Lal Bahadur Shastri Colony in Palsora in 2016, 3 and 20 acres of land respectively were reclaimed by the administration. In 2022, 65 acres of land was recovered with demolition of Colony Number 4, and 6 acres of land from Sanjay Colony in Industrial Area in 2025. On June 19, the Administration took back 12 acres of land with the demolition of Adarsh Colony. Following the demolition of Adarsh Colony, only one slum — Shahpur Colony in Sector 38 — will remain, which has about 300 shanties spread across four acres of government land, valued at Rs 150 crore. In 2006, the UT administration launched a rehabilitation initiative under the Chandigarh Small Flats Scheme, earmarking 356 acres for the construction of 25,728 flats intended to house 23,841 families from 18 unauthorised colonies. According to an official, the Chandigarh Administration has rehabilitated around 28,000 people, who had been living in the unauthorised colonies, since 2006 under the Economic Weaker Section (EWS) scheme. On the encroachment of the Government lands in Chandigarh, Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh said that, 'teams have been made and each of its offices has been assigned 2-3 sectors'. 'They shall report on a weekly basis about any encroachment in their area,' he added. The Chandigarh DC has clarified that the demolition drive is not just about reclaiming land but sending a clear message that illegal encroachments will not be tolerated. 'The reclaimed land will now be utilized in accordance with planned urban development goals to benefit the larger community, ' Yadav added.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Bindra to drive IOC's Olympic Day campaign in India
Beijing Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra is set to drive International Olympic Committee's (IOC) 'Let's Move +1' initiative in India for this year's Olympic Day (June 23). A vocal advocate of taking sports to grassroots, Bindra will spearhead IOC's initiative through his Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) that touches over 60,000 schools across Odisha, Assam, and Chandigarh. Abhinav Bindra will spearhead IOC's initiative through his Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) that touches over 60,000 schools across Odisha, Assam, and Chandigarh (HT) As part of the celebrations, over 50 sports venues across India will open their doors to public for free paired sessions in sports such as football, padel, cricket, badminton and pickleball. 'We want to build a culture for movement and physical activity which will eventually become a culture for sport. As part of OVEP, we have introduced two PE classes in each school that we cover and we hope to see a cultural shift in a few years. It won't happen in a year or two. So far, the response from the parents and teachers have been very encouraging,' Bindra, India's first individual gold medallist at the Olympics, said. A key initiative of Abhinav Bindra Foundation, OVEP has touched about 10 million children by enhancing physical activity, gender inclusivity and educational outcomes. To mark the Olympic Day, the students will participate in activities such as paired yoga, group dance sessions, skipping, football, cricket, volleyball and kho-kho along with Olympic-themed arts and crafts. 'Fitness needs to be a fun activity for kids if we want them to stay invested for a long period of time. Therefore, we have tried to make our activities as engaging, as fun as possible for them.' 'Through OVEP and the inaugural Let's Move campaign, we have witnessed how sport can inspire, uplift and empower the next generation. Let's Move + 1 carries this spirit forward, reminding us that sport is not just about physical strength, it is about fostering connection, mutual support and a shared sense of purpose,' Bindra added. Launched in 2023 in collaboration with World Health Organisation, Let's Move campaign has already engaged over 20 million people in India.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Illegal shanties in Adarsh Colony: Tens of thousands rendered homeless in UT admn's demolition action to reclaim 12 acres
Leaving tens of thousands of people homeless, around 800-1,000 illegal shanties were demolished to reclaim 12 acres of land, here at Adarsh Colony, located between Sector 53 and 54, Chandigarh on Thursday. The colony came up nearly two decades ago on approximately six acres of government land behind the Furniture Market in Sector 53, and 54. The estimated value of the encroached land is Rs 250 crore. Speaking on the occasion, Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar stated that 'this drive is not just about reclaiming land but sending a clear message that illegal encroachments will not be tolerated. The reclaimed land will now be utilised in accordance with planned urban development goals to benefit the larger community'. The operation commenced in the early hours of the morning, in the vigil of Chandigarh Police, which deployed its personnel to maintain law and order and to facilitate the safe and smooth execution of the drive. 'The entire operation was conducted under the direct supervision of senior officers of the Chandigarh Administration and police, reflecting the administration's firm resolve to maintain urban discipline and uphold the rule of law,' an official of Chandigarh Administration said. The official added that this initiative is part of a larger anti-encroachment campaign aimed at reclaiming government land and safeguarding public spaces from illegal occupations. The administration claimed it had served multiple notices and warnings to unauthorised occupants in the recent past, providing ample opportunity for voluntary compliance. Despite previous notices, several structures and makeshift dwellings had continued to encroach upon government land. Acting decisively, the administration said it mobilised all necessary machinery, including earth movers and support teams, to remove these illegal constructions, added the official. Only one slum now: Shahpur Colony in Sector 38 Following the demolition of Adarsh Colony, only one slum — Shahpur Colony in Sector 38 — will remain, which has about 300 shanties spread across four acres of government land, valued at Rs 150 crore. Earlier, on May 6, the UT Estate Office had demolished Janta Colony in Sector 25, reclaiming around 10 acres of government land worth Rs 350 crore. The reclaimed site has been earmarked for a dispensary, primary school, community centre and shopping area. Prior to that, on April 24, over 1,000 makeshift structures were razed in Sanjay Colony in Industrial Area, Phase 1. The colony had been encroaching on nearly six acres of prime government land. The UT administration has been working to make Chandigarh slum-free since the early 2000s. In 2006, it launched a rehabilitation initiative under the Chandigarh Small Flats Scheme, earmarking 356 acres for the construction of 25,728 flats intended to house 23,841 families from 18 unauthorised colonies. Over the years, the administration has carried out multiple demolition drives. In 2013, it razed Colony Number 5, followed by Colony Number 4 in 2022.
United News of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Rookie Tushar Pannu sets the bar at five-under 31 on day one of PGTI NEXGEN
Ludhiana, June 17 (UNI) Rookie Tushar Pannu of Karnal set the bar at five-under 31 on day one of the fifth event of the PGTI NEXGEN season being played at the Imperial Golf Estate here on Tuesday. The 21-year-old Pannu enjoyed a one-shot lead. Kushal Singh of Gurugram returned a four-under 32 to be placed second after round one. The Imperial Golf Estate is a par-72 nine-hole course where the nine holes are played twice to comprise a round. However, due to a rain delay on Tuesday, the first round of the tournament comprised only nine holes instead of 18 with the par for the course being 36. Tushar Pannu's hot putter ensured he led the field on the opening day with an error-free round. Tushar drained an eagle on the sixth hole along with three birdies on Tuesday, all coming as a result of conversions from a range of 12 to 15 feet. He also made a great par-save on the fourth after an erratic tee shot. Kushal Singh too shot a bogey-free round as he was close on the heels of the leader at 32. Karnal's Rohit Narwal, Panchkula-based Abhishek Kumar and Chandigarh's Vasu Sehgal were tied for third place at three-under 33. UNI PC BM
