Latest news with #EconomicWeakerSection
Indian Express
16 hours 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.
Hans India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
We don't need a skewed TG caste survey model: Kishan
Hyderabad: Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy stated that the Central government does not require the skewed model of the Telangana caste census. The upcoming census enumeration will include the caste census, and it will be governed by the verdict of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. During a media briefing on Thursday, he mentioned that an amendment to the Census Act of 1948 is necessary to include 'caste' as a parameter, and this will be addressed during the next Parliament session. He emphasised that the Centre will proceed with the census enumeration only after bringing about the relevant amendments. Kishan Reddy accused the Congress party, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of spreading lies, stating that neither the Telugu people nor people of other parts of the country would trust them. He criticised both the Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) for not sincerely working for backward classes (BCs) and for failing to provide reservations. This is despite their population being estimated at 42 per cent. The Union Minister clarified that the caste census will not include Muslims in BCs under any circumstances. He dismissed the credibility of the caste census conducted in Telangana and Karnataka, referring to them as mere surveys related to castes. Commenting on the Telangana caste survey, he remarked that it is ridiculous to claim that the survey is complete when it has not reached even 50 per cent of the population. The Union Minister accused the Congress of conspiring to include all Muslims in BC reservations, claiming that the party has historically divided people along religious lines and incited communal conflicts while pretending to care for SCs, STs, and BCs today. He recalled that the BJP submitted complete details to the Supreme Court to resolve the long-standing Madiga reservation issue, paving the way for SC categorization. Further, asserted that the NDA government is responsible for granting legal status to the National BC Commission in 2018, implementing 10 per cent of Economic Weaker Section (EWS) reservations and 33 per cent of reservations for women. Kishan Reddy recalled BJP leader Sushma Swaraj writing to the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, indicating the party's support for a caste census. He noted that during Dr Manmohan Singh's tenure, a sub-committee was formed on the caste census. In 2011, the BJP once again supported the initiative. For the BJP, the caste census is viewed as a crucial tool for the social progress of all communities, designed to deliver social and economic benefits rather than for political motivations like those of the Congress, he added.
