Chandigarh administration demolishes 1,000 slums in Sanjay Colony, thousands left homeless

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration on Wednesday morning carried out a demolition drive in Sanjay Colony, adjacent to Industrial Area Phase-1, razing nearly 1,000 slum structures and leaving thousands of residents homeless.

As the demolition began, several residents attempted to resist the action.

A large police force, deployed in anticipation of unrest, dispersed the crowd and facilitated the operation. Heavy machinery, including bulldozers, was used to clear the area.

The drive is part of the UT administration’s ongoing campaign to make Chandigarh slum-free. Over the past two decades, multiple colonies including Colony Number 4, 5, Mazdoor Colony, Kuldeep Colony, Pandit Colony, Nehru Colony, Ambedkar Colony, Kajheri Colony, and Madrasi Colony have been demolished.

In May 2022, the administration had cleared Colony Number 4, vacating around 65 acres of land reportedly worth Rs 2,000 crore. Following that, eviction notices were served to residents of Sanjay Colony and Janata Colony, asking them to vacate the land.

Officials have not yet commented on relocation plans or compensation for those displaced in the latest drive.