Chandigarh, Feb. 7 -- Despite its determined decision to demolish the illegal furniture market in Sectors 53 and 54 by the end of January, political pressure has forced the Chandigarh administration to back-pedal on its plans.

Even after being served eviction orders and a deadline to vacate, furniture traders, with the backing of political leaders, managed to persuade the administration to put the demolition on hold for at least two months - until the auction of shops in the Bulk Material Market in Sector 39, where they plan to relocate.

On January 9, the UT estate officer-cum-deputy commissioner had issued eviction orders, directing shopkeepers to vacate the encroached land within 15 days. The order clearly stated that no alternative s...