Surat: At least 150 people affected by the Nasir Nagar demolition shifted to the Bharimata community hall run by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday, after initially refusing to leave the demolition site.According to civic officials, the residents had earlier repeatedly refused to move to the shelter and chose to remain at the spot. After much persuasion by the authorities, they agreed to move on Saturday. The Bharimata community hall is around 900 metres from the demolition site.SMC arranged basic amenities at the hall, such as mattresses, fans, lighting and drinking water. A medical team has been deployed to help the displaced residents. Health and sanitation teams have also undertaken sanitation work and other preventive measures to keep the premises safe for those staying there.Meanwhile, the inquiry into the controversial demolition is pending. The inquiry committee is yet to submit its report to the municipal commissioner. Officials said a preliminary report has been submitted to the committee by the head of the Central Zone, in which Nasir Nagar is located, but the committee has not disclosed further details on the progress of the probe.SMC has also not begun action against any officials linked to the demolition so far. Officers facing inquiry continue to hold their posts. None of the officials under inquiry have stated that they carried out the demolition on the orders of a superior.The controversial demolition was done by teams from the SMC and the police’s special operations group on May 30. Twenty-six affected persons approached Gujarat High Court on June 25 and filed a special civil application alleging that the law was not followed for the demolition. The court asked the civic body if they have arranged for alternative shelter and if action was taken against any officials involved.
