Demolition of three floors of Santosha apartment begins

Alok Mishra

Patna: A group of labourers started demolition work in the three floors of Santosha Apartment at Bander Bagicha here on Tuesday. Earlier on July 8, these labourers and officials of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) were not allowed to enter  Apartment premises as the residents had vehmentaly opposed the demolition. The Supreme Court (SC) had directed the state government to demolish three floors having 21 flats there terming them illegal.

The labourers, wearing helmets and having spades in their hands, reached Santosha Apartment at around 10 am on Tuesday. The gates of the Apartment were wide open as there was none to oppose them. The SC had directed the flat-holders to vacate their flats by Monday. The PMC had lodged an FIR with Kotwali police station against 30 persons for opposing the demolition process.

A senior PMC officer Vishal Kumar said that all the engineers of PMC have been engaged in the demolition works so that there is no damage to the other flats of the apartment. He said that the demolition works would be carried out in different phases and a report would be submitted in the apex court for further directives.