Approximately 300 houses near DPS Mathura Road in Nizamuddin area have been demolished this winter.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – As the national capital grapples with plummeting temperatures, Delhiites are opting to stay indoors to shield themselves from the biting cold, exacerbated by the city’s notorious pollution and fog. However, authorities seem to have no qualms in continuing with their demolition spree as hundreds of houses have recently been bulldozed, leaving vulnerable citizens at the mercy of the unrelenting chilly winds.
According to media reports, approximately 300 houses near DPS Mathura Road in the Nizamuddin area have been demolished this winter. Lalita Devi, a resident affected by the demolition, expressed distress, having lost her source of livelihood in the process.
Residents claim longstanding habitation, contrasting with officials who cite satellite imagery from 2006 as the basis for demolition decisions. This controversial method disregards property documents, leading to a lack of proper rehabilitation efforts.
Five houses were demolished in Khirki Extension near South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar. Chandravati, a victim, highlights the abruptness of the event, recalling that she was cooking for her family when the marauding bulldozers entered her place.
The alarming aspect of these demolitions is the apparent lack of consideration for the health and survival of those abruptly displaced into the bitter cold and high air pollution conditions. Compounding the issue, recent reports indicate a decline in the number of night shelters run by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) over the past year. The reason cited is the perceived lack of safety, especially for women and children, leading to a surge in homeless individuals languishing in the open.
Activists reveal that DUSIB is actively pursuing the demolition of more shelters in Yamuna Pushta, an area historically known for a high concentration of homeless residents. Existing shelters face underutilisation, with many homeless individuals, particularly women, opting for open spaces over shelters, even during extreme weather.
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Photo courtesy: Timeline file
