A planned demolition drive against 1,489 houses in the Jangleshwar area began on Monday morning, February 23. Structures are being demolished along the TP Road and the Aji riverbank under heavy security.
According to information, seven teams, including 1200 municipal officials, four city engineers and police personnell has been deployed for the operation. The demolition will take at least two days to complete. Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Tushar Sumera will monitor the operation from a control room set up opposite Nilkanth Talkies.
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The order to demolish 1,489 houses was given by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi to the Rajkot Municipal Corporation. The move, however, has sparked anguish among residents, who have lived in the locality for decades.
Quick response team is conducting a flag march in the area. Over 25,00 CRPF personnel and 10 SRPF company has been deployed. "The demolition that was scheduled to take place in the area has been proceeding peacefully since morning. Under the supervision of the police commissioner, many individuals evacuated their belongings within two days from the seven designated zones. They also demolished their houses... Our drone surveillance and social media monitoring cells are active, and SRPF and Quick Response Teams are conducting flag marches," said DCP Zone 1, Hetal Patel.
Harunbhai Sumra, a resident of Jangleshwar Street No. 3, said that he has been living in the area for 43 years. He said both he and his sister are differently-abled and have worked as dailywage labourers to support their family.
"We were informed just two days ago that our house would be demolished. Where will we go now? We may have to live on the streets," he said. Another resident, Halinben, said her family has resided in the locality for 50 years and has been ordered to vacate their house. "No one is ready or willing to give a house on rent to a family of eight. We are preparing to live on the street," she said.