Around one hundred slum dwellers staying at a government recognized pasture land at Badgaon came to Collectorate today for appealing against the orders for demolition of their dwellings under the charges of encroachment.

On 22^nd June, an anti encroachment team went to demolish the encroachment but were convinced to stay the execution until the residents meet the District Collector for discussion.

Today, a group of people presented a memorandum addressed for Chief Minister to District Collector Vikas Bhale. Bhale assured the residents of a thorough investigation, before taking any final decision; however he also said that the slum dwellers have to vacate the land.

District Collector Vikas Bhale while assuring the slum dwellers

According to the memorandum, around 200 families are living in the huts made on a hill in Badgaon. The residents are from different tribes and communities and all of them belong to BPL category.

The slum dwellers expressed their concern that although they are part of Gram Panchayat Badgaon they don’t have any place to reside. Most of them are also registered in the Chief Minister’s housing scheme but none of them has received the allotment.

Memorandum also alleges that, “The lands of local Gram Panchayat were transferred to Urban Improvement Trust and is being sold off in crores of rupees while they are being rendered homeless.”

The residents also claimed that they are residing on the hillocks since last 8-10 years and many are even living there since birth.