Won’t move, says Uttarakhand tunnel rescue hero amid rubble of razed home; L-G promises new house

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), meanwhile, insisted that the house was an illegal structure it had attempted to demolish in the past as well, that its officials were not aware of Hasan’s contribution to the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel rescue operation, and that it has “not targeted any particular individual.”

Surrounded by his family’s belongings — utensils, a clock, mattresses, Hasan, though, reiterated, “Only my house was targeted. There are other buildings around, nothing has been done to them.”

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena said Hasan would be provided with a house. “I was told about it (the demolition)… we will definitely compensate. He will be given a house,” he told reporters.

DDA encroachment drive in Khajuri Khas (Express File Photo)

Northeast Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari too said a house would be provided to Hasan under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). “There were some legal issues concerning the house…He will be given a house very soon,” Tiwari told PTI. The BJP leader admitted that during a felicitation function last year, he had promised Hasan that the house would not be demolished.

“Yes, I did promise him…But when I looked into the matter, I realised there were several problems,” he added. On Tiwari’s promise, Hasan said he had not been spoken to in person or given anything in writing.

Hasan’s demolished house is flanked by two buildings — a makeshift structure that houses a furniture store and a two-storey building with a hardware shop on the ground floor. Behind the demolished house stands a concrete wall topped with barbed wire, separating the DDA’s plot of land from the other buildings.

Ironically, Hasan was happy when the wall had come up a year ago. “We were happy that there was something that separates the two properties,” said Hasan, surrounded by a few other miners who were part of the rescue operation last year.

Insisting that no notice was given to him ahead of the demolition, Hasan said the authority had tried to demolish his house in 2016 as well. “They asked for money last time; I paid. But now I am unable to because I am barely able to cover my daily expenses with the work we do,” said Hasan.

Hasan’s 7-year-old son goes to a private school while his daughter, 14, attends a government school nearby. His eldest, 17, works a welding job.

Pradeep Jain, who runs the hardware shop next door to Hasan’s house, said his store has been in the area for 14 to 15 years. “It’s an unauthorised colony and the DDA has come for the buildings next door earlier also,” he said.

Rakesh Kumar, 35, the furniture store owner, said, “We have obtained a stay from court.”

DDA says can’t allow encroachment on land

In a statement on Thursday, the DDA said that in 2016, it initiated a demolition drive “reclaiming 3 land parcels from encroachment” in Khajuri Khas.

“During inspections in 2017, it was found that individuals named Shri Vakeel and Goyal were again encroaching 2 of these 3 land parcels…However, the…demolition program faced significant challenges as the family… resisted the enforcement… demolitions were again scheduled in September and December 2022. These attempts were once again thwarted by ladies of the family who attempted to inflict physical harm upon themselves…”

In 2022, the DDA learnt that Goyal had obtained a legal stay against demolition, the statement read.

Referring to the exercise as a “routine encroachment-removal drive” which has “not targeted any particular person,” the statement added that DDA officials were not aware of Hasan’s contribution to the rescue operation.

“…When this fact came to light, officials of DDA, after having made alternate arrangements for shelter to Shri Vaqeel and his family, went on site and contacted him. However, Shri Vaqeel refused to avail any relief measure…,” the statement read.

Stating that Hasan was aware of his status of encroachment, DDA said he “re-encroached on the land in 2017”. It further said, “DDA in its role as an authority cannot allow encroachment on its land or unauthorized constructions in its development areas.”