80-year-old woman among 2 dead after demolition:Indore residents say weak houses collapse despite notices; some begin self-demolition

The house she got married into. She nurtured and cared for a complete family of six sons, a daughter, and two nephews. When hammers started striking the roof of that very house, the patience of the 80-year-old ‘Badi Maa’ (elder mother) gave way. She was already a little ill, but when the bricks of her house shook, she couldn’t save her breath. Just two houses away, another elderly person couldn’t bear to see their home crumbling and scattering like this. He had never been admitted to a hospital in his life, never had an IV drip, and never even needed an injection. The shock, along with his home, also took his breath away. Amidst the piles of rubble in Shankarganj, adjacent to Jinsi, this dark face of development is dripping like blood from people’s eyes. On Thursday, the corporation’s JCB operated here. However, notices had been given before that. Time was given until May 5th, which was extended by three more days. Some people tried to remove the obstructing part on their own. This very attempt snatched Devibai Yadav, a resident of 9 Shankarganj, from her family forever. Nephew Satish recounts, “My elder aunt came to this very house, 15 by 61, after her marriage.” In the three-story fragile house, she built her home with six sons, two nephews, and her husband’s younger brothers and their wives. When the corporation issued a notice, we tried to break the balcony. She was already a little ill, but when she saw her house being demolished, she became tearful. Our house was fragile, so neighbor Akash Tiwari did not demolish his house, fearing it might damage ours. When the corporation operated the JCB, not only the obstructing part but the entire house collapsed. All the brothers were forced to shift to rented houses in different corners of the city. The extent of it is that the family also owns two shops in the Municipal Corporation’s Shivaji Market, and they are also being prepared for demolition in the name of encroachment. Right in front is the Rupankan Library, where many children from nearby villages prepare for various examinations. A large part of it has also been demolished. Ashok Dubey of Rupankan says, “This settlement is about 200 years old.” The Holkars’ fort was built here, and subsequently, living quarters were made for their army around it. Everyone has a registry, everyone pays taxes. The Master Plan states that houses cannot be demolished for road widening; if someone comes seeking permission for reconstruction, they will be asked to leave space, but who listens to or sees all this? Compensation in Ujjain, Not Even Solace in Indore
The extent of the issue is that in Ujjain, just 55 km from Indore, full compensation is being given for the damage to private property occurring during the ongoing construction work for Simhastha. In Indore, those responsible cannot even offer solace, while this road in Shankarganj is also being talked about for widening specifically for Simhastha. Claims of TDR-FAR are useless. Had demolished the house himself, yet the corporation team did not agree.
Om Prakash Joshi’s house is further down from Yadavji’s house. The children of 72-year-old Joshi ji had built an alternative house, but their attachment to the ancestral home was such that they couldn’t leave it. The children repeatedly took him to Mahalaxmi Nagar, but he would always return here. When the corporation issued a notice, he himself removed the obstructing construction. Despite this, the corporation team did not agree. When the children did not allow him to come to Shankarganj amidst the demolition, he arrived in the evening. When he arrived at night, he was silent, then started crying. The next day, he passed away from this world. The last rites were performed on Thursday itself.