Mohali: The municipal corporation (MC), Mohali, Friday removed an alleged encroachment from govt land in Mataur village, where a temporary tarpaulin shed had been set up and was being used for keeping stray cattle and carrying out dairy-related activities.The eviction drive was conducted by the MC enforcement wing with police assistance after the civic body served a 24-hour notice directing the occupants to vacate the land.The issue was raised by municipal councillor Gurpreet Kaur during the last MC house meeting following complaints about the encroachment.During the demolition drive, the MC team faced resistance from the occupants. Women members of the family allegedly scuffled with women police personnel deployed at the site to maintain law and order. An argument also broke out between the dairy operator and AAP leader Randeep Baidwan, husband of councillor Gurpreet Kaur. The occupant alleged that the action was motivated by political vendetta.According to the MC, the land falls within its jurisdiction and is government property. The civic body said temporary sheds had been erected illegally and the site was being used for tethering cattle and goats and for other unauthorised activities.A notice pasted at the site on Thursday directed the occupants to remove all sheds, furniture, livestock and other belongings within 24 hours. It warned that failure to comply would result in demolition of the encroachment on July 17.The notice further stated that any damage to or seizure of belongings during the eviction drive would be the responsibility of the occupants and that the cost of the removal exercise could also be recovered from them.
