Residents destroy structures on encroached land

Agitated by the allotment of pattas for plots over the main drainage by the site of the Nagarjan road and over the boundary wall of the Fisheries department land located at United Colony here, agitated residents on Friday morning demolished the temporary structures that had been erected at the site.
Residents of United Colony Ward No.2 have strongly objected to land pattas issued over the main drainage of the Nagarjan road and took up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) W. Kenye Dimapur the same morning.
The residents apprised the DC about the controversial “allotment” as they maintained, that it was encroached upon public drain including a government department land. They said the encroachment over the main drainage would result in blockage and subsequent flooding into the entire area during monsoon.
Seemingly upset with the matter, the DC then went along with the residents to the site for an on-the-spot verification. After confirming that some structures had come up as complained, the DC then directed those who were issued with pattas to immediately stop any further construction activities.
He then asked the patta holders to meet him at his office Monday (February 23) along with relevant documents pertaining to the land.
Later, the agitated colony residents destroyed the temporary structures that had been constructed over the drains.
Talking to media persons, GBs and residents of the colony admitted, that they were unaware of the allotments even when some trees were being felled during the past week. They were however alerted, when some individuals started construction of temporary structures over the road drainage on February 19.
The residents maintained, that they were not objecting to any development work elsewhere but strongly opposed construction of any kind over the main drainage. The residents also expressed resentment at what they described as “surreptitious manner” of the district administration in allotting land pattas to individuals for encroachment over public land and over the main drainage.
The United Colony Council also decided to submit a representation to the Deputy Commissioner Dimapur on February 23 and appeal to stop construction of any kind of structure over the drainage.
The UCC further warned encroachers, that if they did not heed to the appeal against construction of any structure, it would be compelled to take recourse to its own course of action for which the authorities would be held solely responsible for any consequences.