Demolition Drive on IOC Oil Pipeline Halted in Shastri Nagar After Residents Produce Documents; Over Two Dozen Structures Razed in Kareli and Sadiyapur
Prayagraj: A demolition campaign targeting illegal constructions over an oil pipeline owned by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was halted midway in Shastri Nagar on Thursday after residents came forward with documents and objections.
The joint operation, led by the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation and the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA), had earlier demolished more than two dozen structures in Kareli and Sadiyapur.
Bulldozers Move from Kareli to Shastri Nagar
The action began in the morning from Shehnai Guest House in Kareli under the supervision of Additional Municipal Commissioner Arvind Kumar Rai.
The drive primarily targeted constructions raised directly over the IOC oil pipeline along the 60-foot road in Kareli.
In Kareli, several dairies operating over the pipeline were demolished. Authorities found that occupants had encroached upon the pipeline corridor by constructing boundary walls and erecting tin sheds.
Action was carried out at two separate locations in Kareli before a team moved to Sadiyapur, where more than a dozen boundary walls were dismantled.
During demolition, officials reportedly discovered sections of the oil pipeline passing through the interiors of certain houses.
The sight of bulldozers accompanied by police and PAC personnel prompted several residents along the 60-foot road to voluntarily begin dismantling their own boundary walls and removing tin sheds erected over the pipeline.
Constructions Were Marked Before Diwali
Officials stated that these encroachments had been identified and marked with red signs before Diwali last year.
A detailed survey had been conducted from the Old Naini Bridge to Rajrooppur, during which properties built over the oil pipeline were flagged.
Property owners were instructed to remove illegal constructions on their own. However, months passed without voluntary compliance, prompting authorities to initiate enforcement action.
Action Stopped Amid Protests in Shastri Nagar
The demolition drive reached Shastri Nagar after progressing through Kareli and Sadiyapur. However, as bulldozers arrived, residents gathered in protest and demanded an immediate halt to the operation.
Several property owners produced documents claiming they had obtained No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from Indian Oil Corporation.
Others stated that related matters were pending before courts. Some residents also alleged that they had not received compensation at the time the pipeline was laid.
Amid mounting objections, the demolition was temporarily suspended.
According to officials, discussions were underway between property owners and representatives from the Municipal Corporation and IOC when phone calls began coming in from higher authorities.
Mayor Intervenes
Mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Kesarwani spoke to officials and advised that the concerns of property owners be heard before proceeding further.
Following his intervention, authorities paused the operation and directed IOC officials to hold a meeting with affected residents to review the documents presented and resolve disputes through dialogue.
Colonel Dinesh Tanwar, in charge of the Municipal Corporation’s enforcement team, stated that IOC officials would engage with property owners to settle the matter.
The demolition drive, he said, would resume only after discussions conclude and clarity is established.
Eyewitnesses noted that in areas where resistance was strongest, several large residential structures had been built directly over the oil pipeline.
The episode highlights the complex balance between public safety, legal compliance, and residents’ claims as authorities attempt to clear encroachments over critical infrastructure.
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