Sealing Drive by UP Body Leaves Nearly 300 Families Stranded in South Delhi
A court-ordered sealing drive in South Delhi’s Aali Gaon leaves hundreds of families without access to homes.
Nearly 300 families in Aali Gaon, a locality in South Delhi's Okhla Assembly constituency, have been left stranded following a major sealing operation conducted on December 15, 2025, by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department. Officials, supported by Delhi Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, and paramilitary forces, sealed numerous homes and structures alleged to be encroachments on land claimed by the department, leaving residents unable to access their properties or belongings.
The action followed court directives aimed at clearing unauthorised constructions on the disputed land, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation and Water Resources Department despite its location within Delhi's boundaries. Residents reported that doors and entrances were bricked up or sealed without prior individual notices in many cases, trapping personal possessions inside and forcing families to seek temporary shelter with relatives or in open areas amid winter conditions.
Affected locals described the locality as resembling a restricted zone, with sealed homes creating barriers in narrow alleys and disrupting daily life. Many families, some residing there for decades, expressed distress over the sudden displacement, highlighting challenges in retrieving essentials like clothing, documents, and household items. Local authorities have yet to announce comprehensive rehabilitation measures.
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This operation underscores ongoing interstate land disputes in border areas between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, particularly involving irrigation and floodplain zones. Similar anti-encroachment drives in the national capital have drawn criticism for their impact on vulnerable communities, prompting calls for balanced approaches that prioritise humane relocation alongside enforcement of land laws.
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