4 min readNew DelhiJul 6, 2024 05:25 AM IST
First published on: Jul 6, 2024 at 05:25 AM IST
“Eighteen people lived here. They left around 8 this morning for work as daily wage labourers. They don’t even know of this yet,” says Arjun Kumar, 27, incharge of one of the Porta cabins in Yamuna Khadar.
On Friday, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished multiple structures, including a DUSIB night shelter and an NGO-run educational and vocational training centre, in the area as part of its anti-encroachment drive on Yamuna floodplains.
“I repeatedly told them that this is a government structure. But they didn’t listen…,” Kumar adds. Delhi’s Urban Development minister Saurabh Bharadwaj slammed the DDA for the move. “This is illegal. DDA has shown its anti-poor mentality. We will explore legal options against this,” he tells The Indian Express.
Meanwhile, at the demolition site, people could be seen salvaging their belongings. “We somehow managed to take four beds out of the shelter,” says Arjun, adding, “Everyone will have to spend the night here only, even if it rains.” Meanwhile, a vehicle belonging to Akshaya Patra Foundation reaches the spot with the night meals for the shelter. There are no more utensils left to collect the food, though. “Everything was fine when I came yesterday,” says the driver.
The children in the area used to study at an educational centre run by an NGO – Rakshdeep Akshvaat Foundation. Only its rubble remains now. “250 children from the area used to study here, without any charge,” says Madhu, 49, CEO and Director of the foundation, which also conducted free sewing and parlour-training courses for women. “The facility has been running for a year now, and we had invested around Rs 20 lakh from our own pocket. Inhe 2 minute bhi nahi laga todne mein (It didn’t take them even two minutes to break them),” Madhu complains.
Around 2 kilometre away, Poonam Devi is sitting in front of a broken tent near Pusta Road. Her daughter is supposed to get married in the night, the wedding tent has also been demolished. “Daawat ka bhi sara saaman kuchal diya,” says the bride’s maternal uncle, Raghunath Singh.
“She has gone to a friend’s place. Where will she get ready here?” her father, Shailendra Singh, 45, asks.
The residents said DDA posted the demolition notice on Thursday evening and reached the area 12 hours later.
“Hum bus so ke uthe the (We had just woken up),” says the bride’s uncle, Kaptaan Singh, 42.
Around 50 meters away, for the family of Heera Lal Singh, who died the previous night, the demolition came as a double blow. “Body ke samne he humare ghar tod diye (They demolished our homes even as the body lay),” says Lal’s nephew, Ray Singh, 33. “We have been living here for 27 years.”
The DDA did not respond to comments on the demolition of the DUSIB shelter. Officials, however, said that as per NGT orders, structures cannot be built on the Yamuna floodplain.
Meanwhile, in a letter to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, social activist and Executive Director of Centre for Holistic Development (CHD) Sunil Kumar Aledia and lawyer Pragya Dubey said the action was against the Supreme Court orders.
“This action violates the Supreme Court’s ruling… which mandates that no temporary shelters can be demolished without approaching the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the letter states.
It also urged authorities concerned to take action against DDA officials responsible for demolishing the night shelter.
(The writer is an intern with The Indian Express)
People salvage their belongings at Yamuna Khadar. (Express File Photo) 
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