Haldwani: Supreme Court gave relief to four thousand families, know what is the whole dispute of encroachment in Haldwani

A supreme ban has been imposed on bulldozers running on more than 4000 houses in Banbhulpura of Haldwani. The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Uttarakhand government and the Railways in this matter, seeking answers. The next hearing of the case will be on February 7. The Supreme Court also questioned the order to remove the encroachment within seven days. The court said that the human aspect also has to be kept in mind in this matter. With the order of the court, more than 50 thousand people have got immediate relief.

What happened in the Supreme Court today? Where was the bulldozer supposed to run in Banbhulpura? Where did the whole controversy start? How many people were to be affected by this action? What would happen to the children of the schools that came under the encroachment?

What happened in the Supreme Court today?

The Supreme Court stayed the High Court order to remove encroachment from railway land in the Banbhulpura area of Haldwani. The date of February 7 was fixed for the hearing of the case. The court said during the debate that it is a humanitarian matter. There is a need to find some practical solution to this matter.

Where was the bulldozer to go?

The area of Haldwani where encroachment is being reported. It is an area of about 2.19 km long railway line. Railway officials say that there is encroachment from 400 feet to 820 feet width from the rail line. Railways are claiming possession of about 78 acres of land. The encroached land includes five government schools, 11 private schools, a temple, a mosque, a madrassa, and a water tank, as well as a government health center. The areas where bulldozers are to be used include Dholak Basti, Gafoor Basti, Line No. 17, Nai Basti, Indranagar Chhoti Road, and Indranagar Badi Road.

Where did the whole controversy start?

In 2013, a PIL stated that illegal mining was taking place in the Gaura river near the railway station. It was said in the petition that the bridge over the river collapsed in 2004 because of illegal mining. On the petition, the court sought a response from the Railways. By showing the notification of 1959, revenue record of 1971, and land survey of 2017, Railways said that this land belongs to Railways and has been encroached upon.

  It was proved in the High Court that the land belonged to the Railways. Only after this people were given the notice to vacate the land. People turned to the Supreme Court for the order to vacate the land. After this, the Supreme Court asked the High Court to hear the side of these people also. After a long hearing, the High Court accepted the matter of encroachment in this area. On December 20, the Uttarakhand High Court ordered the removal of railway land in Haldwani considering its encroachment. Now the administration is busy preparing to remove it. Meanwhile, on January 2, the affected filed a petition in the Supreme Court, which was heard today. After which the court stayed the order of the High Court.

How many people would be affected by this action?

  For those who did not remove the encroachment till January 2, their encroachment was to be demolished and it was said to recover the cost from the encroachments. About fifty to sixty thousand people live in this entire area. Out of these, about 35 thousand people have a Voter ID card. These people say that they have been living here for many decades. Some people claim that they have been living here for 70-80 years. Had the stay not been granted by the Supreme Court, the district administration would have bulldozed it on January 10.

What will happen to the children of the schools that come under the encroachment?

Five government schools of Banbhulpura are coming up. These include GGIC, GIC, Primary, Upper Primary School Banbhulpura, and Primary School Indiranagar. More than two thousand children are studying in these schools. A letter has been issued in this on behalf of EO Harendra Mishra. It said that alternative arrangements for these schools have been made in nearby schools. GGIC Banbhulpura will be operated at GGIC Haldwani, GIC Banbhulpura at Mahatma Gandhi Inter College, Primary School Indiranagar at Gandhinagar, Primary School Banbhulpura at Bareilly Road, Upper Primary School Banbhulpura at Gandhi Nagar.

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