Shastri Park residents protest 'forced eviction' ahead of demolition drive near Yamuna Bridge

NEW DELHI: Residents of hutments near Yamuna Bridge in the Shastri Park area are leaving their homes after receiving eviction notices on March 2.
The planned demolition drive has raised concerns among the displaced residents, who are worried about their future and lack of support from political parties and government authorities.

Sabina, a local resident, expressed her frustration, saying, “Before elections, political parties promise us that slums won’t be demolished, but after the elections, they trouble us. We don’t have electricity meters, but they still ask us for an electricity bill as proof when we seek help. We are asking the government for a loan of Rs 3 to 5 lakh without interest to help us get a place. We will repay the loan. We don’t want anything else.”
Another resident, Seema, voiced similar concerns, saying, “The poor are always troubled. If they destroy our homes, where will we go? We received the notice on March 2, and this morning they told us to vacate our houses.”
Meanwhile, the Delhi high court recently dismissed a plea filed by a nursery welfare association challenging the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) removal of nurseries from the Yamuna riverbed. The court upheld the DDA's decision, emphasizing that the river’s restoration could not be delayed any further due to encroachments.
The association had contested the DDA’s actions of uprooting their nurseries and bulldozing plantations in the Yamuna Khadar area, which is part of Zone 'O' in the Master Plan for Delhi-2021. The petitioners argued that the demolition was conducted without a proper hearing and without adhering to land demarcation rules set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
However, Justice Dharmesh Sharma dismissed the petition, stating that the condition of the Yamuna River had surpassed the threshold for any further interference. "The river’s rejuvenation efforts must not be hindered by humanitarian or sympathetic appeals," the judge noted.
The court further observed that the petitioners had made a weak case, claiming to be environmental stewards but failing to provide valid evidence to justify their continued occupation or claim for rehabilitation. The land in question, located in Zone 'O', is designated as a floodplain where all encroachments must be cleared to make way for the development of the 'Mayur Nature Park', as directed by the NGT.
In its ruling, the court pointed out that the land falls under the Zonal Development Plan for Zone 'O', and as per the Master Plan for Delhi-2021, it must be freed of encroachments in the larger public interest, in line with directives from the Supreme Court, NGT, and other court orders.
The court concluded that the petitioners have no legal right to continue occupying the land or seek rehabilitation, further emphasizing the importance of completing public projects aimed at improving Delhi’s green cover.