Houses demolished, residents live in makeshift tents

Dehradun: Heavy showers over the past two days have added to the misery of residents of Premnagar whose houses were demolished during a large anti-encroachment drive two weeks ago. Roughly 40 families in the area are now living in makeshift tents set up around the rubble of their houses.

Dwarika Prasad, whose house was demolished, but portions of two walls remained standing, has now tied plastic sheets from one end of a wall to the other to allow the structure to serve as his makeshift home.

“I have been living here for 20 years. I have nowhere to go. The authorities also demolished toilets so many of us have to walk 2 km to the nearest market and pay Rs 5 each time we use public toilets,” he said.

Other residents said that they could not afford to pay Rs 5 so many of the men had resorted to defecating in the open while sheets and tarpaulin has been put up around toilet seats that had survived the demolition so they could be used by women.

Earlier, the state urban development ministry had told the state assembly that those whose houses have been demolished during the anti-encroachment drive would be rehabilitated.

But Lakshmi, a resident, said that no official had visited the area since the demolition.

SDM Pratyush Singh said that the administration would make necessary arrangements like toilet facilities but could not do anything beyond it because the people were illegally occupying the site.


Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.