Mohali, Jan 18: The Mohali Municipal Corporation is set to resume its massive drive to clear illegal encroachments across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors starting January 19. The move follows specific directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court during a hearing held on December 13, where the court ordered the reclamation of government lands, including public parks.
Municipal Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh Sandhu noted that the enforcement teams will target all forms of unauthorized occupation on government property. The civic body has issued a stern warning that any damage occurring to illegal structures during the demolition process will be the sole responsibility of the property owners.
“After removing the illegal occupation, the Municipal Corporation will issue a notice to the concerned owner and will also recover the expenses incurred,” a senior official said regarding the cost of the operation.
The planned crackdown comes amid significant internal friction and public criticism of the corporation’s previous enforcement efforts. During a recent House meeting, several councilors accused the civic body of practicing a “pick and choose” policy, alleging that officials have been biased in which structures they choose to demolish.
Former Deputy Mayor Manjit Singh directly confronted the administration during the session, providing specific names and addresses of major encroachers who he claimed were being shielded from action. Commissioner Sandhu and other senior officials reportedly remained silent during these allegations.
Further complications have surfaced regarding the leadership’s unity on the issue. Reports from the meeting suggest that Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu and the Commissioner’s office are not in complete agreement regarding the timing and specific methods of the upcoming campaign.
Despite the internal disagreements, the Commissioner has appealed to residents to voluntarily remove unauthorized structures to avoid forceful eviction. He mentioned that the drive is a mandatory compliance with the High Court’s orders and will continue until all identified public spaces are cleared.
