Surat: After Weeks in Open, Demolished Families Moved to Shelter; HC Seeks Answers
Nearly a month after over 100 families in Surat's Nasirnagar area were rendered homeless following a controversial demolition on private land, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday shifted around 150 persons to a temporary shelter in a community hall, about 1.5 km away.
The demolitions, carried out on May 30, 31 and June 1, cleared 106 structures. Residents allege they were not given any prior notice, a claim disputed by the civic body. Twenty-six residents approached the Gujarat High Court seeking justice and rehabilitation. The court heard the matter on Thursday and sought explanations from municipal and police authorities, also directing representatives of Torrent Power Ltd to appear on Monday, when the matter will be heard next.
Municipal Commissioner M Nagarajan initially stated that officials went to the site only to demarcate a road on land owned by a private party, which had contributed a portion under a town planning scheme. He said notices are required before demolitions. However, residents insist no notices were served. On June 11, Additional City Engineer Ashish Naik claimed in a video that the demolition was to clear a road, but later changed his stance, saying it was carried out by municipal officials. Nagarajan declined further comment, citing the pending High Court case.
A probe team headed by a Deputy Commissioner has submitted a preliminary report, with statements from some officials still pending. Nagarajan said action would be taken against any guilty officials as per rules.
The 150 people shifted to the SMC-owned Bharimata community hall include the 26 petitioners. Salma Khatun Shaikh, 70, who lost her three-storey home, said she had lived in Nasirnagar for 50 years and questioned how the SMC and police could demolish a house on private land without notice. She described living on debris with her grandchildren for 29 days, exposed to the elements.
The bare community hall initially lacked basic amenities except toilets, which residents said were dirty. By Saturday evening, civic officials had arranged bedsheets, mattresses, water, and cleaned the toilet blocks. SMC Zonal Chief M D Chavda assured that all required facilities would be provided.
