Non-regularised colonies keep netas on tenterhooks in Haryana

The issue of non-regularisation of illegal colonies is set to haunt the ruling BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections. While there is resentment among residents of such localities across the state, in Karnal district, it has emerged a major poll issue.

Residents say despite repeated assurances by the BJP government, their colonies were not regularised due to which they remained deprived of basic civic amenities.

Sources in the Urban Local Bodies Department said there were nearly 70 illegal colonies in Karnal, Nilokheri, Taraori, Assandh, Nissing, Indri and Gharaunda. Residents said the respective civic bodies had sent proposals to the government to regularise their colonies, but no progress could be made. The delay has left a significant portion of the population deprived of basic amenities such as roads, water supply and sanitation.

Opposition leaders have been raising the issue during campaigning, saying even as Karnal was represented by former CM Manohar Lal Khattar for over nine years and caretaker CM Nayab Singh Saini for six months, the government failed to do the needful. “The BJP government kept delaying the matter. Rather, many colonies were demolished. If voted to power, the Congress will regularise all these colonies and provide basic amenities to residents,” claimed Sumita Singh Virk, former MLA and Congress candidate from Karnal.

BJP leaders, however, claimed several colonies had been regularised during their regime. “The remaining will also be cleared soon after we return to power,” said Jagmohan Anand, BJP candidate from Karnal.

Residents, meanwhile, are livid over the matter. Vicky Chawla, a resident of Uttam Colony Extension, said, “We have been living here for over 10 years. Despite assurances, no clearance was given to our locality. We are still considered as residents of an unapproved colony. There are no proper roads and water supply pipelines. This is cruel.”

Adho Mehto, another resident, said, “There has been no real effort to extend any facility to our colony. The government should have included our colony on the list of regular localities. But it just didn’t bother.”

Residents of Hakikat Nagar and Mangal colony have similar stories to share. “We have been demanding basic amenities for years, but all our pleas fell on deaf ears. We feel completely neglected. There is a pent-up anger against the government, which will be reflected in the October 5 polling,” said Naresh Kumar, a resident.

Shiv Kumar of Indri said his colony was developed during 2014-15 and assurances were given to regularise it, but the government didn’t keep its word. “Resultantly, no development work was carried out in the locality. We don’t even have roads and streetlights,” he said.

Sanjay of Assandh said, “Leaders make big promises during the elections, but after voting, no one comes back to address our concerns. We will keep this in mind during voting this time.”

Meanwhile, an official of the Karnal Municipal Corporation said a proposal to regularise illegal colonies was sent to the government, but due to the enforcement of the model code of conduct, it could not be cleared.