Panchkula: The Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) has abruptly suspended its citywide anti-encroachment campaign in Panchkula following recent court directions, leaving illegal structures on public land unchecked once again.The drive was initially launched on orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court to clear public footpaths, road berms, and govt land.During the initial survey, HSVP teams identified widespread violations—including iron grilles, gates, toe walls, boundary hedges, and concrete structures outside private houses, commercial units, and govt buildings, including HSVP’s own office complex.The authority had issued nearly 2,000 eviction notices threatening forced demolition and recovery of eviction costs, prompting several residents and teams to voluntarily or forcibly remove structures in a phased manner.Explaining the sudden halt, HSVP estate officer (EO) Surender Lather said, “Some people had recently moved the court and following court’s subsequent directions, the anti-encroachment drive has been stopped.”The sudden suspension has rendered previous administrative efforts futile, allowing encroachments on road berms and footpaths to continue unabated. While residents claim extending green cover outside homes compensates for poor municipal sanitation, the structures continue to obstruct pedestrians and emergency vehicles.The blockage comes despite a June ruling by the Supreme Court emphasising that safe walking on public roads is a fundamental right. Broken pavements, garbage dumping, wild vegetation, and makeshift shelters continue to pose severe mobility challenges for senior citizens, children, and persons with disabilities across the city.
