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here is confusion among the residents of the 900 meters disputed area around the Air Force Ammunition Depot, as political parties and their representatives who are fighting the elections are promising that a solution to the problem will be found soon. While one Party promises that the Depot will be shifted altogether, another offers to reduce the limit to just 100 meters, while some would prefer to resolve the issue once the matter is cleared by the Courts. It is a reality that construction in this restricted area has never stopped completely, despite clear Court orders. In fact, with the police and administration busy with the planning for the ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections, activity had stepped up. However, a complaint by the Indian Air Force officials has raised the heat, and taking cognizance of it the District Administration has started a demolition exercise – though in a perfunctory manner. The development of illegal colonies and commercial complexes has reached a stage that is beyond redemption in this disputed area, and it is important that the judiciary should also take notice of this issue and resolve the matter at the earliest. Union Minister of State for Defence, Rao Inderjit Singh, who has been forever facing this hurdle, which has now become a major political issue in Gurgaon, has repeatedly said that the government can take action only after the Courts deliver their verdict. He had however assured the residents of the area that the government would take a humanitarian view of this issue, and ensure that people do not suffer. Bunty Yadav, who owns a house in the area, says that this issue has become a political football, with every player trying to score a goal and get votes. The Hooda government was also expected to resolve this matter - but everyone gives the excuse that the matter is subjudice. The residents particularly hail the former MCG Commissioner Praveen Kumar, who had studied the matter in great detail and made a very pro-people presentation to the Court. Shuklaji, a resident who prefers to give only half his name, says that it is because of Kumar's efforts that the Court had allowed basic amenities to be provided to the residents. "The government was asked to provide water, power and sanitation facilities to residents who were living in the area prior
C ivic/S ocial
A (Fiery) Depot Too Near prakhar PANDEY
{ Abhishek Behl / FG }
10-16 October 2014
to 2009. Unfortunately, the govt. even backtracked on this. So the people are still fighting the lack of basic facilities, while the sword of demolition keeps Hanging in the air," asserts Shukla. For the 2 lakhs residents of the disputed zone, the status quo means that there is little hope in the near future, and they will keep staring at kuccha roads, lack of lanes and drains, and water supplied only through tankers. However, interestingly, the densely populated area has become all-important come this election. Kumar, a resident of Sheetla Colony, says that despite the Sheetla Mata temple being nearby, the residents have to suffer from heaps of garbage, scores of pigs and unending dust. The street in which Kumar lives has been clamouring for a water connection for several years, but has got nothing, despite assurances from the local representative. The locals allege that areas that voted for the local MLA and other councillors have benefitted, while those which were in the opposition camp have been suffering, as the development has been selective. In many areas the residents pooled money and got the streets paved and drains constructed, but this work was also carried out covertly, to avoid the gaze of officials who do not let go any opportunity to earn money on the sly. The Aam Aadmi Party had also pushed for removal of this facility or a reduction of the banned limit to 100 meters. Pointing to a lacuna in the arguments of the government, AAP had pointed out that if HUDA can develop sectors and offices in the disputed area, there is no reason why people from weaker sections, and those who can’t afford builder floors, should face demolition squads and police raids. Given the strict instructions from the High Court, it is most likely that demolitions and raids are going to be the way of life
for the next few months. A joint co-ordination meeting of the District Administration, Municipal Corporation, Police and Air Force authorities was held recently. It was decided that any vehicles carrying construction material into the prohibited zone would be impounded. In fact the entire construction material will be seized and FIRs will be registered against the owner and also against the labourers engaged there. In addition, the brick kiln owners and construction material suppliers will be issued notices by the District Administration, asking them not to supply, otherwise they would also be held guilty and contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against them. The shops selling construction material inside the prohibited zone would also be served notices, and would be sealed if they are operating without trade licenses. A decision was also taken to prepare a joint list of concerned officers of the Police, Air Force and Municipal
Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG), with their contact numbers. The list will then be exchanged between the officers, so that they can send information promptly whenever they receive any complaint of any illegal construction. This was especially pertinent for the Air Force authorities, so that they could immediately inform the Administration of any illegal construction activity. On receiving the complaint the concerned officers would react at once and a weekly review meeting will be held at a Joint Commissioner and ACP level at MCG office, and the report will be sent to Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner, MCG Commissioner and Air Force Station Commander. The weekly meeting will be held on every Wednesday (and if Wednesday happens to be a holiday, then on Thursday). The joint orders will be issued by MCG Commissioner Vikas Yadav, since MCG is the nodal agency for it. The Deputy Commissioner also suggested that a separate
complaint register should be maintained for this zone, and the action taken against complaints will also be noted in that register. Commissioner of Police Alok Mittal suggested that it would be better if the Air Force Police help in providing information about the new constructions taking place in the prohibited zone. The residents meanwhile say that this entire exercise negates the fact that there is a large population living in this area, and it is important that their human rights are respected. It seems that the problem of disputed area could have been avoided had the Air Force authorities agreed to the development of agricultural land around the Depot into a golf course. Sources say that while HUDA proposed the setting up of a golf course, it was disposed of by the Air Force authorities, and the problem has become so complex that there is no simple solution available now. u
A Way Forward
(IAF Ammunition Depot) { Col. Tej Dalal (Retd.) }
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he Air Force Ammunition Depot in Gurgaon has been in the news for the last few years – for ‘civic’ reasons. Almost everybody seems to want the Depot to be shifted out, though for different reasons. The State Govt. believes that if the area of the Depot is vacated, it could make an International Golf Course there. The politicians want it to be shifted out so that they can develop a vote bank of the people currently residing there on an ‘unauthorised basis’. The land mafia wants the Depot to be shifted out so that they can ‘develop’ a mini-Gur-
gaon there. The Depot came into existence on the outskirts of Gurgaon when there was jungle all around – barring a few villages. It was considered a ‘safe’ and convenient location for an Air Force unit or an Ammunition Depot. Over the years, as the town grew, so did the dwellings around the Depot. The Defence of India Act prohibits any construction activity around a Govt. building. The distance varies, depending on the nature of the establishment. For an Ammunition Depot, considering the need for the safety of both the local citizens and the installation, there must be an adequate safety perimeter all around it. An Ammunition Depot fire can
be very dangerous, as after a point the only fire fighting possible is to take cover or run. In the 1986 Ammunition Depot fire in Jabalpur, the local authorities had to order the entire town to be evacuated; there have been similar experiences at Bharatpur, Bikaner and Birdhwal. Fortunately there were no civilian casualties in any of these fires, because there had been no ‘encroachment’ within the safety perimeters around these am-