NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority (
DDA
) has deferred the
demolition drive
on the Yamnua flood plain near the
Majnu Ka Tila
gurdwara, sources said on Saturday. According to a senior police officer, a demolition drive was conducted at Khyber Pass near Civil Lines to remove
encroachment
on Saturday.
Some temporary structures which were illegally made on the land of Land and Development Office were demolished, police said.
Sunita, a resident of the Khyber Pass area, said, “We have been living here for several decades. We have no other place to go. We want a house where we can live.”
Children of Kavita, another resident, were yet to return from schol, when her house was razed.
“Our family is living here for long time. We received a notice around five to six months ago that the demolition will take place here. Several kids here go to schools. Where will we take them now,” Kavita said.
Another resident said, “I have no idea why this has happened. We received notice couple months back. My mother-in-law also came here only after her marriage. We want house for us.”
The DDA had in a public notice on Thursday said it will undertake a demolition drive in the area on July 13 and 14.
People in Majnu Ka Tila, where there is a sizable population of Pakistani Hindus, said they received the notice from the land owning agency late Thursday evening asking them to vacate the area by Friday.
The notice referred to the National Green Tribunal’s April 3 order and the Delhi High Court’s March 12 order behind the move.
“In the compliance of order, it is proposed to organise a demolition drive against the encroachment in the river
Yamuna flood plain
area near south of Gurudwara Majnu Ka Tila (Western Bank) on Saturday and Sunday,” the DDA notice read.
The affected families can take temporary harbour at Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) shelters, it had said.
“Hence, the residents of the area are hereby requested to vacate the area by July 12 otherwise they will be self-responsible for any loss due to demolition drive against the encroachment on July 13 or later,” the notice stated.
In its April 3 order, the NGT had said that the status report filed by the DDA did not disclose any substantial effective steps by the agency for removing the encroachment from the area.
The NGT asked the agency to file a compliance report at least one week before the next date of hearing, which is July 15, by e-mail.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, some refugees living in Majnu Ka Tila were given citizenship certificates under the Citizenship Amendment Act.
