By ANUJ BEHAL
On June 19, in a massive eviction drive in Lucknow’s Akbarnagar, the State government demolished around 1,800 structures, including 1,169 houses and 101 commercial establishments. The BJP government plans to develop this area into the Kukrail Riverfront, transforming it into an ecotourism hub. Many residents have lived there for decades, with some claiming that they had been living there even before the development authority was formed.
Vishnu Kashyap, a resident, speaking to a news website, said: “Our houses will be demolished, and now the government will make a riverfront here. You tell me what is more important, a poor person’s house or a riverfront?”
The government claims that the structures are encroachments. A spokesperson said the area was encroached on, covering the river, “which has led to the river being ridden with illegal constructions by land mafias as well as Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators”.
This story was originally published in frontline.thehindu.com. Read the full story here.
