NEW DELHI: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has initiated eviction notices for residents of Yamuna Bazar in the Kashmere Gate area, officials announced on Thursday.
Residents have been given a 15-day period to vacate the premises voluntarily and remove their belongings. If they fail to comply, a demolition drive will take place to eliminate the “encroachment,” as stated in the notice.
“An illegal encroachment consisting of approximately 310 residential units at Yamuna Bazar, located along the banks of the Yamuna River in the O-Zone, is present,” the DDMA notice, dated May 5, detailed. “This area is subjected to annual flooding during the monsoon, posing a significant risk to lives, livestock, and property.”
The Yamuna Bazar region is particularly vulnerable to flooding during the monsoon season. There is an embankment in place to block floodwaters from entering populated areas, but many have settled along the floodplains, exceeding the guard wall, according to a senior official from the Delhi government.
“Not all residents in the Yamuna Bazar area received notices; only those with temporary structures on the floodplains were notified,” the official clarified. Currently, around 300 temporary settlements exist in the area, with eviction notices issued to 26 of them. This action prioritizes the safety of residents during the monsoon season.
Utilizing powers under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the DDMA directed those residing on the encroached Yamuna bank to vacate the area within 15 days from the notice’s issuance.
Failure to comply will result in a clearing operation by authorities without further notice, as per DDMA regulations.
The O-Zone along the Yamuna is designated as a protected, no-construction floodplain managed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). In response, the DDA stated, “We are adhering to the High Court’s directive regarding the removal of encroachments from the Yamuna floodplains.”
This action follows a review by Delhi Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu with DDA officials on rejuvenation efforts in the Yamuna Bazar area, which he visited alongside Chief Minister Rekha Gupta last month. Sandhu emphasized the need for effective flood management measures to ensure long-term resilience in the area.
The low-lying regions of Yamuna Bazar along Ring Road are susceptible to waterlogging during the monsoon, causing floodwaters to obstruct traffic on the main road.
