Delhi authorities on Monday began razing dozens of illegal structures in southeast Delhi’s Taimoor Nagar following a Delhi High Court order aimed at facilitating urgent desilting and renovation work of a key drain that has long contributed to flooding in the area.
The drive, led by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), comes in response to the High Court’s directive on April 28 that mandated demolition to begin from May 5. The order was issued after the court observed that illegally constructed buildings had been obstructing work on the Taimoor Nagar drain, a vital component in the city’s monsoon water management. Local residents claimed that over 100 structures, many of them longstanding jhuggis (makeshift homes), were being demolished. “We got eviction notices on April 26. Some of us have lived here for four decades. Now we are being asked to leave without any clarity on relocation,” said Kunal Kumar, a resident. Another resident questioned the lack of intervention by authorities during the years of construction. A bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet PS Arora expressed concern over the illegal encroachments and called for an investigation. “We don’t know who the mafias are who took money and sold these properties. There must be an investigation into how such large buildings were constructed without the authorities noticing,” the bench stated.
The court order also underlined the need to prevent flooding, as multiple petitions were filed by residents and lawyers highlighting persistent waterlogging during the monsoon season. The clogged Taimoor Nagar drain has reportedly caused extensive water accumulation in homes, roads, and even office spaces, creating severe public inconvenience. To prevent any unrest during the operation, a senior police official confirmed that adequate security had been deployed in the area. “The demolition is proceeding peacefully, with law and order being maintained,” he added. Despite the legal backing of the demolition, the humanitarian impact has raised concerns. Social workers and legal activists argue that the residents, most of whom belong to low-income groups, have been left in limbo without rehabilitation or alternative housing provisions. “There is no clarity from DDA on where these families are expected to go. Urban development cannot come at the cost of people’s basic shelter,” one activist stated.
As the drain renovation project advances, calls for balancing infrastructure needs with humane rehabilitation are expected to grow louder, especially in rapidly urbanising neighbourhoods of the capital.
