DDA, civic body crack down on encroachments in Taimoor Nagar

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Municipal Corporation on Monday launched a joint demolition drive to remove illegal encroachments along the banks of drains in Taimoor Nagar, South Delhi, in compliance with a Delhi High Court directive.

The operation, which began around 9 am, saw the deployment of over half a dozen bulldozers and a large contingent of the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces to ensure smooth execution. DDA and civic body officials supervised the drive, aimed at restoring the natural flow of sewage and preventing chronic waterlogging in the area.

Spanning over half a km along the drain, the illegal structures obstructed the flow of rainwater and sewage — a factor the court cited as contributing to severe waterlogging witnessed in South Delhi during heavy rains on May 1 and 2.

In its April 28 order, the High Court noted, “This court is of the considered view that the waterlogging witnessed in various parts of Delhi…is attributable, at least in part, to the inability of the Taimoor Nagar drain to effectively discharge rainwater downstream due to these obstructions.”

The Bench of Justices Prathiba Singh and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said illegal encroachers, being limited in number, cannot override the rights of the broader public.

Despite several prior notices, the residents did not vacate the area, prompting legal action. The matter eventually reached the High Court after 14 residents filed a petition against the impending demolition.

While the administration maintained that the action followed legal procedure and court orders, several local residents expressed anger and helplessness. They claimed they had been living there for four to five decades and were served notices only a few days ago. Several families now find themselves without shelter and have demanded government intervention for rehabilitation.

“We’ve been here for 40-50 years. Where do we go now? There was no prior arrangement for relocation,” said one of the affected residents.

Officials said since the structures were built on public land without authorisation, their removal was necessary to address the long-standing drainage issues in the area.

Delhi