The citywide anti-encroachment initiative by Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), which was set to commence on Monday, has been postponed. This decision arises as the Punjab and Haryana High Court continues to deliberate on a petition regarding the stilt-plus-four-floor construction policy — a matter intricately connected to numerous encroachment cases.
While the court declined to suspend demolitions in the city on Monday, officials from HSVP indicated that the initiative will only proceed upon receiving explicit instructions from the bench. A senior official from HSVP, who wished to remain unnamed, verified the postponement.
“The initiative has been deferred as the issue is currently under the High Court’s review. We are waiting for clear guidance before we can take action,” the official stated. The demolition process was intended to be executed in phases, akin to the operation carried out by the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) in private developer colonies. The initiatives aim to clear the right of way (RoW) by eliminating illegal extensions — such as kitchen gardens, extended ramps, flower pots on public land, temporary kiosks, rehris, carts, and other obstructions.
Previously, HSVP had urged residents to voluntarily dismantle such structures, cautioning that bulldozer action would ensue otherwise, and had devised a comprehensive sector-wise schedule for the operation, emphasizing the necessity to facilitate smooth pedestrian movement, emergency access, and road safety.
The enforcement wing of DTCP removed over 7,500 encroachments from more than 15 colonies during a five-day operation that concluded on April 22, following the High Court’s stay on the stilt-plus-four-floor policy and subsequent government directives to rectify right-of-way violations.
