Families express distress, emphasising years of residence and urge government to arrange safe rehabilitation
BAREILLY – Fear and uncertainty grip the families living along the banks of Delapir Lake in Bareilly as the municipal corporation’s eviction notice expired on Friday, October 24. The notice, issued on October 10, declared several houses near the lake illegal and warned that demolition could commence any time after the deadline.
Approximately 27 households in the Prem Nagar police station area of Shahabad received the notice, which gave residents 15 days to remove their encroachments voluntarily.
The affected families have expressed shock and distress at the municipal corporation move. “This order has taken away our sleep. We have been living here for generations, and now we are being told to leave our homes overnight,” said Mohammad Irfan, a local resident.
Some families have already started evacuating, while others remain determined to stay. “I will not leave my house, no matter what. This is our home, and we have nowhere else to go,” stated Amina Bano, another affected resident. Meanwhile, others hurriedly packed their belongings, fearing the arrival of bulldozers.
The local community expressed disappointment over the perceived contradiction between government statements and ground realities. “The chief minister talks about helping the poor, but here we are, facing eviction without any rehabilitation. We request the government to provide us with proper arrangements instead of destroying our homes,” pleaded Shabnam Begum, a mother of three.
Officials from the Municipal Corporation reiterated that encroachment on pond land cannot be tolerated. “Our mandate is clear. Illegal constructions on pond land are not permissible, and appropriate action will be taken if notices are not complied with,” said a corporation representative on the condition of anonymity.
As the October 25 deadline elapsed, the fate of these 27 households remains uncertain. Whether the administration proceeds with demolition or provides an alternative resettlement plan is now a pressing concern for both residents and human rights observers in the region.
Residents continue to appeal for government intervention to prevent forced displacement and to ensure that families who have lived in Bareilly for decades are not left homeless without compensation or rehabilitation.
