Save school site: Ludhiana Improvement Trust housing plan faces court threat from residents.

Ludhiana: A growing coalition of residents is threatening to move the Punjab and Haryana high court against a contentious govt proposal to convert a primary school site into a high-density residential complex.The Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) has come under fire for what locals describe as a "revenue grab" that prioritises commercial gain over the constitutional right to education and urban livability. Following an initial outcry from Rajguru Nagar, neighbors from the nearby Housing Board Colony have joined the fray. More than 60 residents formalised their dissent this week, submitting a signed petition to authorities.The residents argue that the land is legally protected under the Ludhiana Master Plan for "educational use", a designation intended to ensure neighborhood children have equitable access to schooling. In a joint statement, the residents outlined several critical objections to the rezoning, which are related to legal protections, infrastructure deficit, the Right to Education, and traffic and density.Under land use zoning regulations, educational land is a distinct category. Residents claim diversion to residential use is impermissible without a formal Master Plan amendment. The area already suffers from shortages in water supply, electricity, and green spaces. Adding a residential complex would "create chaos" and overburden a failing civic grid. Protesters allege LIT is ignoring its duty under the Right to Education Act 2009. Despite a population explosion over the last 33 years, the Trust has failed to establish adequate local schools.Residents warn that higher population density will lead to "uncontrollable" traffic congestion in an area already plagued by overuse. "Instead of meeting the fundamental right of children, the Trust is looking for extra earnings... this is not sustainable in the eyes of the law," the petition states.The Govt's DefenceLIT chairman Tarsem Bhinder defended the process, noting that the Trust is currently in the public consultation phase. He indicated that a public hearing would be held before any final decisions are made. However, Bhinder pointed to a history of local flip-flopping. "When LIT attempted to auction this land as a school site under the previous government, people objected then too, saying they didn't want a school there," he said. "Now, they are opposing residential use."The residents have issued an ultimatum: if the plan to convert the primary school site is not scrapped, they will seek a stay order from the Punjab and Haryana high court. MSID:: 128306657 413 |