NEW DELHI: Delhi Development Authority’s drive to clear “unauthorised constructions” on government land in Mehrauli continued on Sunday, amid protests by locals.The agitated protestors, mostly women, shouted slogans against the government and DDA. Some of them accused DDA officials and the police of “misbehaving” with the crowd. “What were these agencies doing when the construction was taking place and the flats were sold? We even have our registry papers and pay the house tax regularly. I bought the flat about a year ago with my hard-earned money and now I am being asked to leave after suddenly being served a notice. Where will we go?” Satya Bhama, a resident, said. She claimed that male members of her family were shoved and pushed with lathis when they questioned the demolition. In the morning, some women were detained after they allegedly threw red chilli powder on police personnel. Deputy commissioner of police (south) Chandan Chowdhary insisted that no lathi charge was conducted and there were no injuries. “The locals were obstructing the DDA personnel and police. Some women also threw red chilli powder on them,” she said, adding that some people had been detained and suitable legal action would be taken against them.On Sunday, police and DDA officials targeted newly constructed buildings (not occupied yet) near a power transformer, located next to the wall of Mehrauli Archaeological Park. The process to shift the transformer sparked a protest, with locals alleging that it would lead to a disruption in power supply. They claimed that it was a deliberate action to inconvenience the residents.The authority, however, assured the residents that power supply would be restored soon. The residents were not pacified and insisted that the officials leave immediately.Preeti, a resident, said the buildings were constructed next to the boundary wall of a park, but DDA was now calling it an encroachment on government land. “We haven’t slept for three nights and don’t know what lies ahead. It is inhuman to demolish so many houses when hundreds of families are already living there. We haven’t come here overnight. It took years for these buildings to be constructed and, now suddenly, the authorities have woken up and pasted notices outside the houses, giving us a few days to vacate the property,” she said.Sakuntala Pandey, another resident, said her children’s boards exam were scheduled this month and her husband had also taken ill. “I am clueless about what to do and where to go,” said Pandey, tears rolling down her face.DDA, with help from the local police, started the demolition action on Friday. It razed several shanties and some multi-storey buildings bordering Mehrauli Archaeological Park in Ladha Sarai village.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/demolition-drive-continues-amid-protests-in-delhis-mehrauli/articleshow/97849491.cms
