Delhi Demolition Displaces Hundreds; Authorities Cite Flood Risk as Rehabilitation Questions Mount

Hundreds of residents in Delhi's Yamuna Bazar area have been left homeless following a large-scale demolition drive carried out by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) along the Yamuna floodplain. The operation targeted settlements between Ghat No. 2 and Ghat No. 32 after authorities identified them as illegal encroachments within the Yamuna's protected O-Zone. Backed by heavy police deployment, the demolition followed multiple eviction notices issued to around 310 families since May, with fresh notices served on June 23 warning residents to vacate or face removal.

Authorities said the action was necessary because the settlements were located on the Yamuna floodplain, an area where construction is prohibited due to recurring flood risks. While many residents had shifted some of their belongings to rented accommodations before the demolition, others remained in the hope of receiving relief or an extension. As earthmovers dismantled the structures, families hurriedly removed doors, windows and household items, while many belongings remained buried under the debris.

A day after the demolition, the ghats remained barricaded as displaced families sat beside piles of salvaged possessions under the scorching sun. Among them was 16-year-old Kavita Kumari, a Class 10 student, who said the demolition had left her uncertain about her education and future. Born and raised in Yamuna Bazar, she said her family had no alternative home and questioned how she would continue preparing for her board examinations after losing everything.

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Several other residents voiced similar concerns over their livelihoods. Rajkumari Yadav, who earned a living selling flowers to devotees near the Yamuna, said the demolition had not only taken away her home but also her primary source of income. Labourer Ashish Upadhaya questioned why authorities had allowed families to live there for years if the settlement was considered illegal. He pointed out that residents possessed electricity and water connections and other official documentation linked to the address, making the sudden eviction difficult to understand.

Residents also expressed concern about the financial burden of relocating. Many said they could not afford rental accommodation costing between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000 per month, while some rejected the option of shifting to government-run rain baseras, citing concerns over safety and living conditions for families with children. Others argued that moving away from the area would increase travel time and expenses for work and school, making daily life even more challenging.

Some families further claimed that the most recent notices had indicated they would have until July 4 to vacate, but the demolition was carried out earlier than expected. Authorities, however, have maintained that the operation was conducted in accordance with legal procedures governing encroachments on protected floodplain land. As displaced residents continue searching for shelter and alternative livelihoods, questions over rehabilitation, affordable housing and long-term resettlement remain at the centre of the unfolding humanitarian situation.

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