17 families, 20 shopkeepers displaced

Mr Manpreet Singh, SDM, said all tenants would be provided subsidised plots and the shopkeepers would be given shops in a shopping complex to be constructed at the same place. He said the dwellers were informed about it two years ago, but did not pay heed.

Mr Ravi Kumar said his family had been living in the haveli for the past one century. He said at present his family, comprising 11 members, were residing in it and did not have any other place to take refuge. He claimed that he had been paying monthly rent to the Jain Trust, which managed the haveli.

A tea merchant, Mr Pran Nath Khanna, who had his office and godown in it, said electricity meters of all shops and houses were removed. He claimed that the locks of his shops were broken to carry out the demolition. He alleged that policemen blocked the approach road to the haveli in order to stop them from reaching there.

Another tenant, Ms Surinder Kaur, said her family had been residing in it for the past over five decades. She said it was a surprise demolition and they did not have enough time to secure their valuable belongings. Shopkeepers and families alleged that their costly commodities got damaged during the drive.

Mr Satpal, Superintending Engineer of the galliara beautification project, said the demolition was carried out under the fourth and fifth phases of the project. He said the space would be utilised to build a basement parking lot and a shopping complex in which shops would be given to the displaced shopkeepers.