Narmada: The district administration has taken action against alleged illegal constructions on plots allotted to government officials in Garudeshwar near the Statue of Unity (SoU). A demolition drive that commenced on Sunday continued for the second consecutive day today.

The matter dates back to 2019, when the then Narmada Collector R.S. Ninama allotted residential plots to 13 government officials in the Garudeshwar area. The plots were allotted for residential use, subject to specific conditions, including construction within the stipulated timeframe.

However, several allottees allegedly failed to begin construction within the prescribed period. Preliminary findings also suggest that some constructions violated the terms of allotment and other applicable regulations.

According to the administration, some structures were built without obtaining the required town planning approvals and allegedly deviated from the approved residential purpose. Officials claim the buildings appeared to have been intended for commercial use, prompting action by the district administration.

The current Collector has ordered that the land be restored to government ownership wherever the terms of allotment were found to have been violated, leading to a major controversy within administrative circles.

Earlier, the government resumed six of the 13 plots after finding violations of the allotment conditions. These six allottees had failed to undertake construction within the stipulated timeframe. Of the remaining seven plot holders, two obtained stay orders from the court.

Since Sunday morning, amid heavy police deployment, JCB machines and bulldozers have been demolishing the allegedly illegal constructions on the plots belonging to the remaining five senior officials.

Before initiating the demolition, the Garudeshwar Gram Panchayat reportedly issued three notices directing the allottees to voluntarily remove the unauthorised constructions. However, the occupants failed to comply, following which the administration launched the demolition drive. DeshGujarat