Watch: Residents of Zakir Nagar wave legal papers, cry, say all lost
The landing of bulldozers and heavy police in Zakir Nagar H block end near Yamuna bank on Wednesday morning left residents deeply worried with everybody wanting to know how many houses will be demolished as anti-encroachment drive is going on in Mehrauli.
And as operation started to dismantle jhuggis and a few pucca houses there some residents were seen waving legal papers to buttress their claim that they are not encroachers. But the papers were of no use as the anti-encroachment drive was held peacefully in presence of heavy security force with the authorities alleging that some residents had made houses and jhuggis illegally on the DDA land.
Days ago a notice was also put in the area urging residents to vacate the land by moving their items outside so that they are not ruined in the anti-encroachment drive.
A woman crying inconsolably waved several papers, including electricity bills and others, saying the family built the house after working hard now it is gone. “Where I will go,” she asked with all her house items on the road.
Another man said he has been living here for years and bought the house. When asked whether he will file complain against the property dealer, he said: “After making money, the property dealer is gone.” A few netizens said builders should be punished for selling such properties to the gullible people.
If a few were forthcoming, some didn’t talk with the media and said: “What is point in making news on the issue when we have lost everything.”
Temporary huts and other structures built illegally on Yamuna floodplain areas at Zakir Nagar were removed on Wednesday, in compliance with a National Green Tribunal order, officials said as reported by PTI.
About an acre of land was reclaimed, a senior official said.
“As per NGT (National Green Tribunal) order dated 13.01.2015 in case no. 06/2012 (Manoj Mishra Vs DDA & Others) all encroachments in Yamuna Flood Plain area are required to be removed. In compliance of NGT order, the removal of temporary huts & structures at Zakir Nagar on Khasra No. 276, 366 has been carried out today,” the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) said in a statement.
