The South Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday continued its demolition drive in Madhuvihar, Chaukhandi, Janakpuri, Chhatarpur and Meherchand market in Lodi Road area, during which several structure were demolished and 128 articles were impounded. The North MCD also wrote a letter to Station House Officers of Rohini and Prem Nagar Police Station, demanding the adequate police force including policewomen to remove the unauthorised encroachment in the area. During demolition drive, the South MCD team uprooted a tree in New Friends Colony. In a statement the civic body said that information pertaining to uprooting of tree has been provided to deputy conservator of forests via a letter dated May 10 wherein the it has "assured the forest department to undertake 'compensatory afforestation of 10 number of trees' in lieu of the uprooted tree or take measures as directed by the forest department.
The locals of Lodhi Colony and Mehar Market gathered together since morning amid a tense atmosphere. The fear was palpable as people prayed for cancellation of the drive or for divine intervention to save them from the rage of bulldozer.
During the drive in central zone, the road measuring 1.2 kilometres in length was made encroachment free. Apart from this, two vehicles were impounded while as many as 25 items were confiscated. SDMC’s central zone chairman, Rajpal Singh, said that the demolition drive took place in the Lodhi Road colony and Mehar Chand market to clear the encroached area.
We are not conducting this drive to snatch the livelihood of the people instead the civic body is helping people by removing the encroachment, as after the removal there will be no more jam in the area, the school buses will easily reach the houses of the students, etc.
“The drive started around 2:12 in the afternoon and continued till 4:30 pm. 35 civic officials were present on the spot along with the adequate police force,” he said.
“Those who have not encroached need not fear. We will raze the encroachments. People of political parties are working to intimidate people. We talk about unity, integrity and development of the country,” said Rajpal.
Congress MLA, Abhishek Dutt, also reached the spot and said that this bulldozer is a political move to shape the upcoming elections, it’s a bulldozer of inflation, the prices of petrol is skyrocketing, the cost LPG cylinder is around Rs 1000, instead of easing the burden of inflation, the civic body is creating more hardships for the people with this move.
A similar action was taken in the West Zone where illegal encroachments were removed from District Centre, Chhoti Sabzi Mandi, Janakpuri, Chaukhandi and adjoining areas. During the action, an area of about 1800 meters was made encroachment free. The SDMC team also seized a total of 71 items and impounded one vehicle lying unattended.