Civic body gets cracking on illegal colonies, 16 row houses razed

Indore: Sixteen illegal row houses were demolished in Anjani Nagar and Jagdish Nagar areas on Monday. The move was a part of an intensified campaign by Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) to prevent expansion of unauthorised settlements.The crackdown primarily focused on Zone 4. In Anjani Nagar, four row houses illegally constructed near a drain were completely removed, while at Jagdish Nagar in Banganga area, removal operations targeted 12 row houses. Officials revealed that six of them were nearly complete with finishing work underway, while the remaining six were under construction.The civic body also dismantled roads and drainage systems being developed without any land diversion or valid development permissions in Banganga area.The illegal construction in Jagdish Nagar was reportedly being carried out by one Shubham Sahu.IMC official Ankesh Birthariya said that the department took action after it was confirmed that hundreds of square feet of construction lacked legal permits. The team used three earth movers. Over 70 municipal workers carried out the demolition, which proceeded without any local resistance.Authorities noted that the illegal houses were being built rapidly, often under the cover of night, to be sold to unsuspecting buyers. IMC commissioner Kshitij Singhal has instructed officials to maintain a strict vigil on unauthorised colonizers to prevent public fraud.The corporation has issued a strong appeal to citizens to verify all legal documents before purchasing plots or houses. The administration warned that Jagdish Nagar and other similar illegal developments are under the scanner. Continuous actions will be taken against any construction lacking valid authorisation.