Houses razed in anti-encroachment drives across Delhi, several left homeless in biting cold

On December 21, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) demolished nearly 300 houses near DPS Mathura Road in Nizamuddin. Pointing to a bed covered in debris, 39-year-old Lalita Devi recounted the pain and shock of witnessing the destruction of her home. “I had just returned from my parents’ house when I saw bulldozers gathering to demolish our homes. I hurried to salvage what I could, but my home had turned to rubble.”

What added to her anguish was the recent investment of their life savings into renovating the same house. “We had put everything we had into making our house better… We owned a perfume shop next to our house… it was our only source of income which we also lost during the demolition,” she said.

MCD sources said 50 workers, eight trucks, and two anti-smog guns along with police personnel, were deployed to clear the settlement. The exercise, sources said, was carried out on the basis of satellite imagery indicating the absence of any settlement before 2006 in the area.

Asked why it was done during winter, sources in the civic body said demolitions could not take place in November due to GRAP III guidelines (under which construction and demolition activities are barred) being in place to curb pollution. Since the guidelines were revoked, sources said some 300 structures have been demolished. “In many instances, people encroached upon agricultural land to build their houses. The main objective behind this action is to dissuade property dealers and to create awareness among the general public against buying such plots,” sources said.

However, 22-year-old Moin Uddin claimed his family’s ties to the land span nearly four decades. “They asked for our address proof just before Diwali. We provided it, but they still razed our homes… the first electricity meter was installed here in 1993, there were public toilets, roads were also maintained by the MCD, but they still claimed this settlement is illegal,” he alleged.

Residents claimed they approached shelters under the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) for rehabilitation, but got no help. Sitara Begum said, “My husband’s health is deteriorating, there is no bed to sleep on, no utensils to cook or eat in… Shelters are refusing to accommodate us…”

When The Indian Express reached out to DUSIB members, they acknowledged the issue but offered no immediate resolution, citing the need for further investigation.

Near Sai Mandir in Malviya Nagar’s Khirki Extension, a densely populated region in South Delhi, around five homes were demolished by the MCD and DDA on December 6.

“Five families have called this place their home for the past 40-45 years. While some returned to their villages, we have nowhere else to go, even the elderly are forced to sit without a roof in this cold,” said Raj Kumar, who is currently in recovery from a heart attack he had last month.

“We had no clue the demolition would take place, I was cooking when bulldozers along with police personnel arrived… we didn’t get the time to save our belongings…,” Chandrawati alleged.

MCD sources said the settlement was cleared as it was encroaching on its land. The DDA PRO did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment.

Indu Prakash Singh, an activist who works for the homeless, said, “The Supreme and High Courts have earlier emphasised on not conducting demolitions during severe weather conditions. Moreover, DUSIB’s 2015 policy clearly outlines the necessity to resettle affected individuals within a 5-km radius before any demolitions occur… Failure of the government to provide adequate housing is leading to encroachments…”
Other areas that saw similar demolition drives in recent months include Pradhan Enclave in Burari, Mandawali, Trilokpuri, Narela’s Bakhtawarpur, Aya Nagar, Bhatti mines, Mundka, Mehrauli, Green Park, Chandni Chowk, Alipur and Sadar Bazar.