Jaipur: Jaipur Development Authority’s (JDA) enforcement wing has taken an unusual route in colonies beneath high-tension power lines, asking residents to contest a pending PIL in the Rajasthan High Court rather than merely responding to routine encroachment notices under the JDA Act, 1982.Acting on the court’s directive, JDA teams pasted notices on houses and shops in Gajsinghpura and nine nearby colonies. Nearly 1,000 families have seen their properties marked as encroachments because they fall under high-tension lines.“The move is unusual for the enforcement wing. For years we have served notices to remove or seal structures declared as encroachments under the JDA Act. Perhaps, this is the first time we are asking the parties – already served notices as encroachers – to become a party in the PIL. The High Court has directed us to paste these notices on the walls of the buildings,” an enforcement official stated.The notices have prompted residents, earlier identified as encroachers, to organise legal action. They have formed groups and engaged three to four advocates to represent them before the division bench headed by the acting Chief Justice.“All residents have divided themselves into two to three groups. Each group has hired its own lawyers. These lawyers will be present on the next hearing scheduled in Sept,” said vice president of Prithviraj Nagar Jan Vikash Samiti Khemchand Mundotiya.The Samiti claims about 1,000 buildings between Ajmer Road and Gopalpura Bypass Road are under threat. It has warned the same yardstick could affect nearly 25,000 structures across 800 colonies in Prithviraj Nagar.
