A day after the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) razed 55-odd slum dwellings opposite Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram for encroaching upon a town planning (TP) scheme road, the civic body in an affidavit Sunday informed the Gujarat High Court that the demolition was “more essential in the interest of ‘Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project’.”
The demolition was undertaken on April 15, while a petition moved by the slum dwellers before the Gujarat HC challenging notices of eviction issued by the AMC on April 11 was pending a hearing. The AMC filed its affidavit on April 16.
The AMC, in its affidavit, filed through deputy estate officer Hitendra Makwana, has submitted that “on the ground of larger public interest,” AMC’s order for eviction “is just and proper and does not call for any interference” from the Court.
“It is submitted that in view of the recent development the execution and implementation of the above referred TP road is more essential in the interest of the public at large and in the interest of ‘Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project’… It is submitted that the competent authority has decided to develop Gandhi Ashram and its surrounding land which is forming part of the project in question with a noble aim for promoting and educating the people in the philosophy, value and teachings of Gandhiji, who is the father of the nation. To achieve the above-referred noble goal, this mammoth project has been taken up by the state authority…
“It is submitted that the work of development of Gandhi Ashram under the above-referred project is underway. It is submitted that for the purpose of further continuation of the project in question, it is essential to discontinue the traffic of Ashram road touching to the existing Ashram as the said land of existing Ashram road as on today would be needed for development of the Ashram as per the project in question… It would become clear that for the purpose of smooth implementation of the project in question and with a view to undertake further work so as to complete the project in question, the execution and implementation of the TP road in question is absolutely essential and urgent. It would not be out of place to mention here that if the work of project in question is not undertaken as per the schedule, it may affect the financial assistance from the Central government which ultimately result into delaying the project in question or may affect the project itself, which is of National Importance,” said the civic body.
Submitting that owing to the illegal slum dwellings, the “entire implementation” of the TP road was stalled, the AMC stated that the dwellers are not entitled to the benefits of rehabilitation and resettlement policy for slum dwellers of 2010 as the petitioners could not submit the requisite documents of their occupation on or before the cut-off date as is prescribed under the policy.
Fifty-two dwellers had moved a petition before the Gujarat HC on April 13 seeking that their cases be considered for rehabilitation and resettlement policy of the state government.