Gurgaon: The citywide anti-encroachment drive of Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), scheduled to begin Monday, has been put on hold.The decision comes as the Punjab and Haryana High Court continues to hear a petition concerning the stilt-plus-four-floor construction policy — an issue closely linked to multiple encroachment cases. Although the court on Monday refused to halt demolitions in the city, HSVP officials said the drive will begin only after receiving clear directions from the bench.A senior HSVP official, requesting anonymity, confirmed the deferment. “The drive has been put on hold as the matter is under consideration of the High Court. We are awaiting clear directions before initiating action,” the official said.The demolition action was to be carried out in a phased manner, similar to the exercise conducted by Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) in private developer colonies. The drives aim to clear the right of way (RoW) by removing illegal extensions — including kitchen gardens, extended ramps, flower pots on public land, temporary kiosks, rehris, carts and other obstructions.HSVP had earlier appealed to residents to voluntarily remove such structures, warning that bulldozer action would otherwise follow, and had prepared a detailed sector-wise schedule for the operation, citing the need to ensure smooth pedestrian movement, emergency access and road safety.DTCP’s enforcement wing removed over 7,500 encroachments from more than 15 colonies during a five-day drive that concluded on April 22, following the High Court’s stay on the stilt-plus-four-floor policy and subsequent government directions to clear right-of-way violations.
