A High Court order has prompted the demolition of illegal settlements at Kalkaji’s Bhoomihin Camp, as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) began clearing unauthorised huts this morning. The operation, accompanied by heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces, seeks to ensure regulatory compliance and protect flood‑prone catchment areas
The DDA had issued a three‑day eviction notice—June 8 to 10—urging residents to vacate voluntarily. Remaining huts are now being demolished, with authorities warning that any belongings left behind would be deemed forfeited. At the demolition site on Tuesday, Kalkaji MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, joined demonstrators in protest. She was forcibly detained by law enforcement under Section 65B of the Delhi Police Act, evoking accusations of rights suppression by the ruling party.
Atishi strongly criticised the government’s approach, accusing it of abandoning slum‑dwelling communities who have lived in the area for decades. She pointed out that over 1,800 flats had been constructed, yet only about 1,200 in-camp residents had received relocation, leaving many effectively displaced . “When bulldozers arrive, our promises evaporate,” she said, warning that the government would face public backlash. The action underscores a growing rift over the interpretation of the government’s 2025-26 slogan: “Jahan jhuggi, wahin makaan”. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) continues to denounce the BJP‑led administration for allegedly performing a superficial relocation that sidelines lower‑income residents. National convenor Arvind Kejriwal echoed this on social media, labelling the drive authoritarian and accusing the government of “ruining Delhi in just three months”.
Barring a few whose eligibility was recognised in court, many residents lacked formal tenancy documents or proof of slum residence—criteria that excluded them from resettlement schemes. Without legal protections, they now face eviction and homelessness. Authorities justify the demolitions as necessary to uphold civic planning norms and prevent drainage blockages during the monsoon, citing similar actions taken at Madrasi Camp, Jangpura, where over 300 huts were razed to clear the Barapulla drain. That campaign led to displacement with incomplete rehabilitation: while 215 out of 370 families were deemed eligible, most were moved to distant flats in Narela, causing a spike in daily costs and commutes, even as support services lagged.
Urban planning experts argue that such episodic clearances—if not paired with robust in‑situ housing upgrades—fail to deliver sustainable solutions. They recommend transparent allotment processes and phased relocations closer to work and markets to prevent socio-economic exclusion . Surveying the construction profile, civic bodies confirm that Bhoomihin Camp sits on land designated for public drains and open space, making the rebuild necessary. The High Court directed evacuation over four hearings, emphasizing precaution ahead of the monsoon. Yet, procedural gaps remain. In Kalkaji, as in Madrasi Camp, affordable housing was promised—but delivery stalled. Critics argue that formalising huts under CCTV surveillance and providing utility access could have been a more inclusive interim solution.
Still, the government maintains eviction is lawful under the Slum Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy 2015 and backed by court rulings Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, in a parallel statement, said all necessary flats had been allocated in compliance with legal standards, invoking flood mitigation priorities. Zoning experts emphasise that Delhi’s challenge is managing rapid urbanisation in flood‑prone zones while ensuring equitable housing. The pandemic‑driven surge in Delhi’s informal settlements has necessitated tougher enforcement and new policies aimed at resilience . Some analysts view Kalkaji’s episode not as isolated, but symptomatic of a citywide pattern of narrow compliance at the expense of community welfare. Only a holistic urban housing reform—anchored in city‑wide data, decentralised social housing, and grassroots engagement—can yield fair outcomes.
As bulldozers push forward in the early hours, questions linger over post‑clearance rehabilitation. Will the displaced find affordable housing nearby? Is Delhi bracing for a second wave of urban homelessness even as it presses flood safeguards? The story is now set to shift to the Delhi High Court, where residents have filed new petitions challenging the eviction—even as some could yet secure interim stays.
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