Khadda Basti Levelled

Raging earth movers razed Khadda Basti of Jaipur to history on Sunday. Only a few structures remain standing on the four bighas of land that till last week was a residence for nearly 600 families. The area has been evacuated following orders of the high court holding the former ‘basti’ as an ‘illegal settlement’. The evacuated four bighas of land estimated to worth around Rs 300 crore will now be restored to Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC). 

Auction of the land is expected to generate revenue for the municipal corporation. “A plan for the future use of the land will soon be drafted, as in the interest of the JMC there is a good possibility of it being auctioned,” mayor of Jaipur, Ashok Lahoti told DNA.

The JMC is expected to submit a compliance report of the evacuation process at the high court which has previously ordered the evacuation to be completed by October 8. The last day of the evacuation deadline saw massive demolition work as over 300 structures were pulled down on Sunday. The ‘basti’ was home for nearly 600 families which have been rehabilitated at BSUP flats at Jaysinghpura Khor and Paladi Meena.

The municipal corporation officials are jubilant over the peaceful commencement of the drive, in contrast to the protest faced at the recent evacuation drive of Jaipur Development Authority at Gopalpura bypass, the evacuation of Khadda Basti remain peaceful and completed without the use of force.

“Its indeed a matter of relief and delight that the exercise completed peacefully, those rehabilitated during the process also willingly paid 10 percent cost of the compensatory accommodation provided to them,” said a senior JMC official. 

THE ISSUE

• The issue of evacuation of the illegally developed basti had been a standing issue for several decades. The basti continued to grow as a slum devoid of any basic facilities until a society of neighboring colony approached high court over the issue. The high court to have previously ordered for evacuation of the area.