Janta Colony, the sizeable slum of Chandigarh, faces demolition today.
Headline: Say Goodbye to Janta Colony: Chandigarh Takes Aim at its Last Big Slum on Tuesday
Subhead: Sector 25's 5,000 dwellers brace for the city's relentless push towards a slum-free Chandigarh
Brace yourself, Janta Colony denizens, because Chandigarh Administration is storming in on Tuesday with a bloodthirsty demolition drive. It's show time for the city's infamous slum-free campaign, and the last big piece of the puzzle, the Janta Colony in Sector 25, is about to crumble.
This intense clash comes barely two weeks after Chandigarh Administration took down 1,000 hovels from Sanjay Colony, which were squatting on prime land in Industrial Area Phase 1. The Janta Colony, though, has gone a step further, unlawfully occupying a whopping 10 acres of prime government land, valued at a staggering ₹350 crore, according to UT estate officials.
With a hearty headcount of around 5,000 inhabitants packed into approximately 2,500 shanties, the Janta Colony is a formidable fortress. But make no mistake—this city isn't shying away from a fight. With 1,500 policemen and an army of 1,500 municipal corporation and UT estate office officials, the demolition drive kicks off at 5 am sharp.
A week's notice was issued to the residents of Janta Colony to vacate the area, and it seems most of them got the message. Nishant Kumar Yadav, the dependable deputy commissioner-cum-UT estate officer, confirms that the majority have heeded the call.
Post-Janta Colony, only two small slums—Shahpur in Sector 38 and another in Sector 54—remain. The Chandigarh Administration has been waging war on these eyesores since the early 2000s, aiming to transform Chandigarh into a slum-free utopia.
The Administration's ambitious campaign first surfaced in 2006, outlining a comprehensive plan to replace these slums with alternative housing. A whopping 356 acres of Chandigarh's 2,811 acres of net vacant land were earmarked for constructing rehabilitation flats, designed to house 23,841 families from 18 illegal colonies. In exchange for their new digs, the relocated families were to pay a nominal monthly rent.
However, the story didn't end there. Delayed or skipped rent payments have resulted in a mountain of debt piling up over the years.
The Administration has already razed Colony Number 5 and Colony Number 4, and, in 2022, demolished Mazdoor Colony, Kuldeep Colony, Pandit Colony, Nehru Colony, Ambedkar Colony, Kajheri Colony, and Madrasi Colony.
As for the Janta Colony, it likely boasts a decades-old legacy, mirroring Chandigarh's history as a carefully planned city. It's unclear what progress the city has made or what challenges it still faces in transforming this slum into a thriving hub. Stay tuned for updates from Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL) or the UT administration’s 2024–25 annual reports.
While the fate of these slums is uncertain, one thing is for sure—the Chandigarh Administration has its sights set on a slum-free future, and they're not leaving a single stone unturned to make it happen.
- The Janta Colony residents in Sector 25, numbering around 5,000, are preparing for the upcoming demolition drive on Tuesday instigated by Chandigarh Administration.
- The Janta Colony, located on prime government land worth ₹350 crore, has evaded demolition yet, despite occupying approximately 10 acres.
- The imminent Janta Colony demolition, followed by the removal of only two small slums, signifies Chandigarh Administration's efforts to eradicate all slums in the city by 2024–2025.
- Initiated in 2006, the government's policy aimed to replace slums with rehabilitation flats, promising accommodation to 23,841 families from 18 illegal colonies, with a nominal monthly rent.
- In the face of delayed or missed rent payments, a considerable debt has accumulated over the years, shedding light on the challenges faced by the Chandigarh Administration in transforming slums into thriving hubs.
