201 families at Rakhigarhi served eviction notices; villagers protest
HISAR: After shifting about 100 families living on an archaeologically important mound in Sirsa district, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is now urging the Hisar administration to evict around 201 families living in Rakhigarhi, another site of archaeological importance.
While those in Sirsa were shifted to two-room housing board flats, the Hisar administration has not offered any rehabilitation for the 201 families of Rakhigarhi. The irate residents have now started a protest under the leadership of local Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Umed Lohan.
The ASI, in its fresh survey to identify the protected area, had found that the 201 houses were built on Harappan-era mounds, and thereafter served the eviction notices.
State archaeological department’s assistant conservator Shish Pal Chalia said, “This is the matter under the government of India and ASI has approached the Hisar administration for eviction of the families living on mound number 2,3,4 and 5.”
Village sarpanch Sandeep Kumar, on the other hand, said, “The eviction notices were served suddenly. About 700 acres of land in our village falls under archaeologically important area. The administration should have at least offered some rehabilitation plan along with the eviction notices.
The protesters, under the banner of Jan Chetna Manch, have also decided to take up the matter with Haryana finance minister Capt Abhimanyu.
Subhash, Dharambir Singh and Dharampal Singh, who are residents of the village say, “We built our houses in the village after working so hard and now we are suddenly being told that the government will demolish our houses. Where will we go?”
Suman and Santosh, two other protesters, say, “We will continue our protest and dharna as the government did not suggest any proper plan of rehabilitation or compensation. We will not allow anyone to touch our houses without a proper plan.”
The administration has also deployed sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Narnond as Duty Magistrate in the village.
The duty magistrate and SDM Narnond Rajiv Ahlawat have assured the protesters that their demands will be forwarded to the government.