Encroachment drive: 24 houses, school classrooms demolished in Sukhna riverbed

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

In a major demolition drive at Chikalthana, the municipal corporation cleared large-scale encroachments in the Sukhna riverbed. 85 small and large structures were removed on Saturday. Owners of 24 residential properties were given two days to vacate, following which the civic squad demolished all 24 houses on Monday morning.

A private school functioning within the riverbed was also razed, including its entrance arch and several classrooms. The school had earlier served as a polling booth, prompting questions over whether its encroachment status had been verified. The action follows efforts over the past few months to restore the river, with stone pitching worth lakhs underway on both sides. After floods four years ago inundated nearby houses, the town planning department marked the danger line, leading to the decision to remove all structures within it. Most demolished buildings were permanent houses and shops, cleared using heavy machinery after occupants removed belongings. Residents have questioned who sold plots in the riverbed to economically weaker citizens and demanded cases against the alleged land mafia, though the civic body has yet to act.