Delhi: 1,000 homes demolished, over 5,800 people hit, says HLRN report

NEW DELHI: A new report by Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN) says that the government authorities, at both the central and state levels, demolished over 36,480 homes in 2021, thereby evicting over 2 lakh people from their homes across the country.

In Delhi, various land-owning agencies demolished 1,123 homes for various reasons, affecting a total of 5,838 people.

The national capital witnessed several incidents of such demolitions between February and July this year. The report alleged that in most of these cases, due processes were not followed and the affected persons were not rehabilitated. It said “forced evictions” lead to displacement of families, loss of homes and livelihood, disruption of children’s education, severe impact on health, and physical and psychological trauma among other consequences.

Among the reasons that led to eviction of people in the national capital are slum-clearance, anti-encroachment or beautification drives and infrastructure projects.

Delhi Development Authority (DDA) carried out several demolition drives to vacate government land in 2021. “In February 2021, DDA demolished 150 houses in Shastri Park. In Dhobi Ghat area, DDA along with police demolished 26 houses. In December 2021, DDA demolished over 140 houses in Kalkaji without any rehabilitation provided to the affected families,” HLRN claimed in the report. DDA did not respond to queries sent by TOI.
Delhi: 1,000 homes demolished, over 5,800 people hit, says HLRN reportThe report highlighted inadequate and delayed resettlement as evicted families have been waiting for rehabilitation for several years. “In many of these cases, the rehabilitation has been ordered by the Delhi high court and the families have paid for alternative housing, often by taking personal loans at high interest rates. In Kidwai Nagar, around 400 affected people have been waiting for the allotment of alternative flats since 2017,” said the report.

The report alleged that with the continued lack of coordination between governments and overlapping implementation of schemes for the poor, the evicted families in Delhi are forced to languish in inadequate living conditions, waiting to be rehabilitated by the state.

HLRN in the report recommended to the Centre and state governments that due processes should be followed by ensuring that the free, prior, and informed consent of all affected persons is taken before any eviction project is finalised. The report said alternative accommodation should be urgently provided to all evicted families.