Delhi saw the removal of a three-decade-old slum in Vasant Vihar last week, under the direction of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). This action was in compliance with a Delhi High Court ruling, allowing the construction of NDRF headquarters on the site. Meanwhile, an anti-encroachment operation was carried out near the Mata Guiri Devi Hospital in West Delhi, addressing obstructions by local vendors and shopkeepers. These enforcement actions underline the struggle to balance urban development with citizens' rights.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), following a Delhi High Court mandate, directed the removal of a longstanding slum cluster in Vasant Vihar last week. According to police sources, the eviction procedure took place at the long-established Priyanka Gandhi Camp, a community that had existed for nearly thirty years.
Authorities from the NDRF, in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), led the eradication campaign. By the end of Friday afternoon, the operation had been successfully executed. Officials confirmed that the operation strictly adhered to legal protocols and was conducted in alignment with the High Court's ruling.
The Delhi High Court, on May 30th, had declined to suspend the demolition of the slum, which had been established on land designated for NDRF headquarters. The Court, however, permitted the execution of the order to be postponed from June 2 to June 15.
During a hearing on a petition lodged by the Priyanka Gandhi Camp's residents, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela had advised the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to contemplate the possibility of relocating the residents to interim housing.
The Court further indicated that the long-standing slum-dwellers were potential candidates for rehabilitation under the 2015 relocation policy. The slum community, part of an extended list of 82, was qualified to be covered under the policy. The disputed land, allocated to the NDRF by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in 2020, was currently hosting the NDRF headquarters, a rented premise costing several crores annually.
In parallel actions, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi declared an "anti-encroachment operation" in West Delhi near the Mata Guiri Devi (MGD) Hospital. Local vendors and shopkeepers had allegedly impeded access to the hospital, prompting the MCD to intervene with assistance from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, West District. The MCD further warned of stringent measures, including property sealing, should re-encroachment occur. They emphasized that rule-breaking will not be tolerated, particularly when it puts innocent patients and citizens at risk.
In conclusion, these eviction drives reflect a commitment to following the rule of law and upholding court orders, even when the outcomes may be challenging for some residents. The incidents also highlight the ongoing issue of slum encroachments in India's urban spaces, a problem requiring compassionate, inclusive, and sustainable solutions. As India navigates these complex issues, it must balance the rights of its citizens with the necessity for urban development and public safety.
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