LG Sandhu orders tech-driven fight against encroachments

Lieutenant Governor Taranjeet Singh Sandhu on Thursday directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards encroachments across the national capital. He stressed leveraging technology for real-time monitoring of public land and buildings to curb unauthorised occupation and illegal construction.

At the review meeting, the authority informed the Lt Governor that it has reclaimed around 241.51 acres of government land after enforcement drives conducted across the national capital since April 2025.

Chairing a meeting of the DDA’s Advisory Council to review the “Perspective for Sustainable Urban Development” in Delhi, Sandhu said any unauthorised occupation or construction should be detected and acted upon swiftly. Members of Parliament Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Sudhanshu Trivedi attended the meeting, along with senior officials from the DDA, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the Delhi government, and other agencies.

The Lieutenant Governor was informed that the DDA has constituted 14 flying squads under its Land Management Department for the protection of government land. The squads, supported by daily field inspections and monitoring mechanisms, have helped reclaim nearly 241.51 acres of government land through demolition drives since April 2025. In addition, 235.96 acres in development areas have been cleared of illegal constructions.

Officials also briefed the Advisory Council on an ongoing drone survey of the entire National Capital Territory being carried out jointly by the DDA, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Survey of India. Of the 1,370 sq. km identified for mapping, more than 1,122 sq. km has already been surveyed, while the entire O-zone has been covered. The DDA is also geo-tagging over 3,700 vacant land parcels spread across nearly 21,773 acres under its Vacant Land Management System to facilitate periodic monitoring through photographs and detect fresh encroachments.

On unauthorised constructions, the DDA informed the meeting that it launched a special enforcement drive to identify deviations from sanctioned building plans using dedicated inspection teams.