The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has announced a demolition drive against encroachment on the Yamuna flood plain near Majnu Ka Tila gurdwara on July 13-14. Residents of Majnu Ka Tila, who are primarily Pakistani Hindus, received the notice late on Thursday evening and expressed concern over the planned eviction.
The local police have been requested to provide security to maintain law and order during the drive.
According to the notice, the encroachments on DDA land adjacent to the south of Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tila must be removed, with the exception of the structure belonging to the petitioner who approached the high court.
The notice references the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order from April 3 and the Delhi High Court’s order from March 12 as the basis for the action.
“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 Tilla (Western Bank) on Saturday and Sunday,” it read.
The notice also mentioned that affected families could seek temporary shelter at Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) facilities.
“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.
On April 3, the NGT observed that the status report submitted by the DDA did not show any significant progress in removing the encroachments from the area.The NGT instructed the agency to file a compliance report via email at least one week before the next hearing date, which is July 15.
In the lead-up to the Lok Sabha elections, some refugees residing in Majnu Ka Tila were granted citizenship certificates under the Citizenship Amendment Act.