CHANDIGARH: Indian government through a well-planned policy has brought almost vast demographic changes in Chandigarh to weaken Punjab’s claim to the disputed town.
While the city’s master plan does not provide for housing the migrant labors force, workers from mostly Hindi speaking states of U.P., Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana have set up illegal housing colonies around Chandigarh. Nearly 24000 tenements have sprung up in numerous colonics during the past 24 years with an estimated population of 1,20,000.
The city’s administration nominated by the Indian home ministry has regularized and declared as legal all the maintained occupants of government land. In addition, these residents have been given water and electricity connections from the state run services. India’s major Hindu parties Congress(I) and B.J.P. not only approve of the government measures but also put pressure on the administration to accommodate as many illegal entrants to the town as possible.
What is more the key administrative positions in Chandigarh are offered by the Indian government cither to officers belonging to the Hindi speaking states or Punjabi Hindus. These officers automatically serve the interests of the migrants.
The first official survey of illegal colonies was conducted in 1970 when the number of such dwelling units was 4452 with a population of 22270, The latest survey conducted in 1994 indicates the dwelling unity number at 24000 with a population of 120000.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 21, 1994
