Delhi’s Madrasi Camp Faces Demolition Amidst Resident Discontent | India News
- A major demolition drive is in progress at madrasi Camp, a slum settlement along the Barapullah drain in Jangpura, Southeast Delhi.
- Residents have launched protests, citing insufficient rehabilitation measures, even as some families received offers for alternative housing in Narela.
- The Madrasi Camp slum demolition stems from a May 9 Delhi High Court order,prompted by a public interest litigation during the 2024 monsoon season that highlighted severe flooding...
Delhi slum demolition drive sparks protests over relocation
A major demolition drive is in progress at madrasi Camp, a slum settlement along the Barapullah drain in Jangpura, Southeast Delhi. The Delhi High Court ordered the clearance to facilitate the drain’s restoration and cleaning. The operation involves heavy paramilitary and Delhi Police presence, targeting over 300 slums.
Residents have launched protests, citing insufficient rehabilitation measures, even as some families received offers for alternative housing in Narela. Authorities identified 215 families from the 370 shanties as eligible for relocation under the Prime Minister’s ‘Jahan Jhuggi Waha Makaan’ scheme, offering them flats in Narela. An initial list of 189 families was later revised to include 26 more.
The Madrasi Camp slum demolition stems from a May 9 Delhi High Court order,prompted by a public interest litigation during the 2024 monsoon season that highlighted severe flooding in Nizamuddin East and Jangpura. The court directed multiple agencies, including the Delhi Growth Authority, the Archaeological Survey of India, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and the Public Works Department, to restore the drain to prevent future flooding.
The municipal Corporation of Delhi initiated the first phase of the demolition on Sept. 1,2024,removing homes and evicting street vendors.Discontent continues among residents, as several families await flat allotments. Madrasi Camp has been a site of political and administrative disputes for the past eight months, with disagreements among civic agencies and political parties regarding the demolition and rehabilitation responsibilities.
“What should I say? Thay have looted us,” a resident told IANS as her home was demolished. “‘Jaha Jhuggi Waha Makaan’ is a lie. They lie about allocating homes. Everything they say is a lie.”
“Right now, I don’t even have the courage to speak about it,” she added, wiping her tears.
Established between 1968 and 1970, Madrasi Camp is being cleared for the restoration of the 16-kilometer Barapullah drain, a roughly 400-year-old Mughal-era structure. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the evictions during the initial demolitions in September 2024, while BJP leaders blamed AAP for mismanagement and inadequate rehabilitation efforts. the political conflict intensified during the February Assembly elections, with leaders from both parties promising support to affected families.
What’s next
the focus remains on the ongoing relocation process and the restoration of the Barapullah drain, with continued scrutiny from both residents and political entities.