GHAZIABAD: The Ghaziabad Development Authority is all set to launch a massive demolition drive from August 13 to remove illegal buildings in the city, sources said. The development agency is currently preparing a schedule for the action. According to an official, it will set a target to demolish four illegal buildings per day in each of its eight zones. The only hitch is the availability of police personnel due to the ongoing Kanwar yatra “Initially, we had planned to start the demolition drive from the first week of August. However, we were not sure of getting the support of police force due to the ongoing Kanwar yatra. So, as per our tentative plan, we will launch a drive from August 13,” said Santosh Rai, secretary, GDA. “We are now in the process of preparing a zone-wise list of illegal buildings in the 16 police station limits in the city. According to the figures available with us, the list already has more than 500 buildings,” added Rai.“The drive will continue for 14 days till August 31. In between, we will take a break for five days on account of holidays,” he said. According to the plan, the drive will not be carried out on August 15, 17,19, 22 and 26 due to holidays. “In the remaining time, we have set a target to demolish 448 illegal buildings,” said an official.“The drive, however, cannot be carried out in the absence of police force. So we have sent our schedule to the SSP. His response is awaited, but we hope that after August 10, when the Kanwar rush will decrease, forces would be made available,” said Rai.Meanwhile, on Monday, the GDA sealed 25 illegal buildings which included eight in the flood plains. “Till now, we have sealed 317 illegal buildings in the city. These buildings have been marked ‘illegal’ and our demolition drive will start from these buildings,” said Rai.

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