New Delhi: A major anti-encroachment drive in West Delhi’s Ashok Vihar and North Delhi’s Wazirpur resulted in the demolition of over 300 illegal dwellings on Monday, according to officials. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) spearheaded the operation in Jailorwala Bagh, Ashok Vihar, while Indian Railways conducted a simultaneous drive in Wazirpur.
Under heavy police and paramilitary presence, the demolitions began early Monday morning. The DDA stated that 308 unauthorized structures were removed from Jailorwala Bagh as part of its ongoing effort to reclaim land and address illegal settlements.
The agency claims the operation primarily targeted structures belonging to residents who had already been allocated alternative housing or deemed ineligible for rehabilitation under established policies.
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“The demolition targeted jhuggi structures whose inhabitants have been provided with alternative flats, as well as those who were found ineligible, except for individuals who have obtained stay orders from the High Court,” a DDA spokesperson clarified.
According to authorities, 1,078 eligible families from the JJ cluster in Jailorwala Bagh have already been relocated to newly constructed 1 BHK flats in Swabhiman Apartments. An additional 567 households were classified as ineligible for relocation, while the Delhi High Court has issued stay orders preventing the demolition of approximately 250 dwellings.
Alternative accommodation was provided to nine more families. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) stipulates that eligibility for rehabilitation requires inclusion on voter lists between 2012 and 2015, as well as possession of at least one of twelve specified documents, such as electricity bills or driving licenses.
In Wazirpur, the demolition drive focused on structures built illegally along railway tracks. Railway officials cited significant safety concerns, including reduced visibility for train operators and the inherent danger posed by children playing near the tracks.
“The speed of trains had to be restricted due to encroachments so close to the tracks,” an official explained. These actions follow similar eviction operations carried out recently in southeast Delhi’s Bhoomiheen Camp, Madrasi Camp, and Patel Nagar – where approximately 450 jhuggis were demolished on June 11th – suggesting a wider initiative to clear illegal settlements throughout the city.
The demolition drive sparked immediate political controversy. Former AAP MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi was briefly detained while protesting the action in Wazirpur. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) vehemently condemned the demolitions, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately targeting vulnerable, low-income communities.
